City's rabies death toll rises to 18

Shehryar, 24, dies of rabies encephalitis at JPMC

KARACHI:

A 24-year-old man from Qayyumabad died of rabies encephalitis while undergoing treatment at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), raising the number of rabies-related deaths reported in the metropolis this year to 18.

The deceased, identified as Shehryar, was bitten by a stray dog around two months ago but did not receive the recommended anti-rabies vaccination.

According to JPMC Emergency Department in-charge Dr Irfan Siddiqui, seven people have so far died of rabies at the hospital this year.

Hospital officials said Shehryar was brought in with suspected rabies encephalitis and provided immediate medical care. A neuromedicine team was called in for assessment and the patient was administered sedatives and other necessary treatment. However, he died at around 9am.

Dr Siddiqui said rabies was an extremely dangerous and fatal disease that was usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal or contact between its saliva and an open wound.

He stressed that once symptoms appeared, treatment became extremely difficult, making immediate preventive measures after an animal bite essential.

The doctor advised people bitten by a dog or any suspected rabid animal to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. He warned against applying chilli, oil, soil or other household substances to the wound and urged victims to seek immediate medical attention.

He said completing the recommended anti-rabies vaccine course after a dog bite was essential. The number and schedule of vaccine doses depended on the nature and severity of the wound and the patient's previous vaccination history.

In cases involving deep wounds, bites to the face or hands, or direct exposure of an open wound to animal saliva, some patients may also require rabies immunoglobulin, he added.

Dr Siddiqui urged citizens not to take dog bites lightly or wait for symptoms to appear, stressing that rabies was preventable if the wound was washed immediately and the victim received timely medical assessment, vaccination and, where necessary, rabies immunoglobulin.

More than 30,000 dog-bite cases have been reported in Karachi this year. Of the 18 rabies-related deaths, 11 were reported at Indus Hospital and seven at JPMC.

Citizens have called for effective measures to control the growing stray-dog population and ensure the availability of anti-rabies vaccines and other essential facilities at public hospitals.