150,000 dog bite cases reported in Sindh this year

KARACHI:

As many as 150,000 dog-bite cases were registered at hospitals across the province from January 1 to September 30, data released by the Sindh Health Department revealed on Sunday.

Karachi saw the highest number of dog-bite cases, numbering at 17,800, while Naushero Feroze reported 13,000, Khairpur 12,500, Kashmore 11,400, Dadu 11,300, Qambar-Shahdadkot 9,100, Sanghar 8,000 and Umerkot 7,500.

Of all the cases registered in Karachi, 6,500 were reported at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, 6,000 at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, 5,000 at Indus Hospital and 300 at other district hospitals.

The slum areas of Ibrahim Hyderi, Korangi, Surjani Town, North Karachi, New Karachi, Baldia Town, Orangi, Keamari, Mehmoodabad, Liaquatabad, Federal B Area, Sohrab Goth, Orangi and Golimar saw the highest incidence of attacks by stray dogs, with children and elderly persons being the most common victims. Meanwhile, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan and Sukkur reported fewer cases during this time, according to the health department. A total of 195,761 dog-bite cases were registered in Sindh in 2019.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2020.