22 Deaths Reported as Rabies Outbreak in Sindh Worsens
The government’s failure to manage the stray dog population has led to a heartbreaking health crisis across Sindh. Families are grieving as official data confirms that 22 people have died from rabies this year. Many victims were children who could have been saved with proper medical care. Unfortunately, a lack of vaccines and poor training in hospitals have turned preventable bites into fatal tragedies.
One recent case involved a teenage student who was bitten while playing badminton. Her family rushed her to multiple hospitals, but they faced medicine shortages and incorrect treatments. By the time she developed symptoms, it was too late for a cure. This story reflects the suffering of thousands as the stray dog population continues to grow in urban and rural areas.
The Current Scale of the Crisis
Major hospitals in Karachi have already reported over 42,000 dog-bite cases in 2025. Specifically, the Indus Hospital and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre are seeing dozens of new patients every single day. Many of these victims travel from interior Sindh because local clinics lack life-saving supplies. Therefore, the burden on city hospitals is becoming unsustainable as the rabies outbreak in Sindh worsens.
How to Stay Safe and Prevent Infection
Rabies is a fatal disease, but you can prevent it by following the World Health Organization protocol. If a dog bites you, immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes. Afterward, seek a full course of the anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin for severe wounds. In addition, the government must prioritize mass vaccinations for stray dogs to stop the virus at its source. We must act now to ensure no more lives are lost to this preventable threat.
