Septuagenarian man dies of 'rabies'

A 70-year-old man died at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) after developing symptoms of suspected rabies nearly 20 days after being bitten by a dog, taking the reported rabies-related death toll in Sindh to 39 this year.

Syed Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Baldia Town, had sustained dog bites to his left hand and foot but had not received anti-rabies vaccination following the incident, hospital officials said.

According to hospital records, he was brought to the emergency department at 2:16am on October 14 in critical condition, with severe muscle stiffness and hydrophobia, or fear of water - symptoms associated with rabies.

Medical staff initiated emergency treatment and consulted the neuromedicine team. He was subsequently admitted to the FGO ward on suspicion of rabies encephalitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the brain caused by the virus. However, he could not survive.

With his death, the number of reported rabies cases in Sindh this year has reached 39, according to the figures provided. These include nine cases at JPMC, 28 at Indus Hospital Karachi and one at Indus Hospital Badin.

Health experts warn that rabies is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms appear, but timely medical intervention after exposure can prevent the disease.

According to World Health Organisation guidance, anyone bitten or scratched by a suspected rabid animal should immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention without delay. Post-exposure prophylaxis, including anti-rabies vaccination and rabies immunoglobulin when indicated, is essential to prevent the infection from progressing.