KARACHI: The number of dog -bite cases in Karachi has alarmingly increased with over 25 patients, most of them suffering from rabies, brought to the city's hospitals on Monday.



Surprisingly, more than 25 dog-bite cases, among them 12 from Liaqatabad alone, were reported to major city hospitals in a single day amid shortage of anti-rabies vaccine.

Around 23 people were reportedly brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) on Monday for treatment for dog bites, according to RMO Dr Jahnzaib.

"12 people were brought from only Liaqatabad alone," said the doctor. More than 13 other patients were rushed to the medical facility from other parts of the city, he added.

Dr Jahnzaib said there was no anti-rabies vaccine available in the hospital, adding that the people bought it from outside for the treatment of their loved ones.



Hospitals in the entire province have been facing an acute shortage of anti-rabies vaccine amid a growing population of stray dogs and non-existence of facilities in the rural parts of Sindh to face the challenge.

People are demanding the authorities ensure the availability of anti-rabies vaccination in all major hospitals in the city and take concrete steps for the prevention of the menaces and control of the population of stray dogs in the metropolis and rural areas of the province.

A Rabies Encephalitis is a dog-borne viral illness caused mostly by the biting of stray dogs, and if ARV is not administered to the affected person along with immunoglobulin, the patient suffers a miserable death due to hydrophobia and other complications of the disease.

