Urgent Calls for Stray Dog Relocation as Rabies Deaths Rise in Sindh

KARACHI: The death toll from rabies in Sindh has reached alarming levels, with two more victims succumbing to the disease on Monday. This brings the total number of fatalities this year to 42, prompting healthcare experts to call for immediate action to address the growing population of stray dogs in urban areas.

Among the latest victims was a 38-year-old man from Hyderabad, who died at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) after experiencing severe symptoms including hydrophobia and irritability. According to a JPMC doctor, the patient had been bitten by a dog on the face four months prior, but his post-exposure treatment status remains unclear.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has highlighted a concerning study indicating a high prevalence of the rabies virus in dogs across Karachi. Officials stress the urgent need for a systematic approach to control the stray dog population, which poses a significant health risk to the public.

In light of these developments, health authorities are expected to convene in the coming days to discuss strategies for relocating stray dogs to designated shelters and implementing effective vaccination programs to prevent further rabies cases.