Karachi Reports Five Rabies Deaths Amid Dog-Bite Surge

In a concerning development, Karachi has reported two additional fatalities due to rabies, bringing the total death toll for the year to five. The latest victims include a 75-year-old man from Lyari, Nemat Gul, who was bitten by a dog three months ago but did not receive post-bite vaccination. He exhibited severe symptoms such as hydrophobia and was admitted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where he ultimately succumbed to the disease. Similarly, a 10-year-old girl from Mirpurkhas was also reported to have died after being bitten on the face by a stray dog two months prior, with her condition deteriorating rapidly before she was taken to Indus Hospital. Aftab Gohar, manager of the Rabies Prevention Clinic, noted that the girl showed symptoms just four days before her death, highlighting the critical need for immediate medical intervention after dog bites. Dr. Irfan Siddique from JPMC stated, "Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal," emphasizing the urgency of vaccination following bites.