More than 100,000 dog-bite cases reported in Sindh

KARACHI: More than 100,000 dog-bite cases have been recorded across the Sindh province hospitals from the beginning of the year till date out of which 14000 people hail from Karachi city alone.

According to the Director, General Health Sindh, more than 100,000 dog-bite cases have been reported throughout the Sindh province out of which 14000 were from Karachi, 3000 from Hyderabad, 3487 from Badin, 8358 from Dadu, 5077 from Ghotki, 9021 from Qambar, 3932 from Larkana, 3298 from Mirpurkhas, 7572 hailed from Nashuro Feroz, 4918 from Shikarpur, 4000 from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, 3966 from Umerkot as well as other districts.

In Karachi out of the reported 14000 cases, 5300 dog-bite cases were reported from the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi, 5200 from the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), and about 3500 in the Indus Hospital, Karachi.

Rabies is a preventable disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected animals. However, in Pakistan, 99% of the cases are caused by dog bites. Presently, dog-bite cases are being reported from the slum areas of Ibrahim Hyderi, Korangi, Surjani, North Karachi, New Karachi, Baldia, Orangi, Keamari, Mehmoodabad, Liaquatabad, Federal B Area, Sohrab Goth, Orangi, Golimar, and other areas. The children and elderly generally fall victim to dog bites.

In 2018, More than 23000 dog bite cases were reported in the three major hospitals of Karachi.