KARACHI – A 24-year-old man died of rabies at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) after being bitten by a stray dog two months ago, amid a continuing rise in dog-bite cases in Karachi.
The victim, identified as Shahryar from Qayyumabad, was brought to the Jinnah Hospital emergency department at around 3:40am after developing severe symptoms associated with rabies.
According to the hospital officials, Shahryar had been suffering from irritability, anxiety and hydrophobia, or fear of water, for about a week. He had reportedly not received the recommended anti-rabies vaccination after being bitten by the stray dog two months earlier.
The doctors suspected rabies encephalitis and began treatment. The neuromedicine team at Jinnah Hospital examined the patient and provided supportive care, including sedative medication.
Despite medical intervention, his condition deteriorated and he died at around 9am while undergoing treatment.
The case has once again highlighted concerns over the increasing number of stray dog attacks in Karachi and the importance of obtaining timely medical treatment following a dog bite.
According to the available figures, at least 18 people have died of rabies in Karachi so far this year. Of these, 11 deaths were reported at Indus Hospital, while seven people died at Jinnah Hospital.
More than 30,000 dog-bite cases have reportedly been recorded in the city since the beginning of the year, underscoring the scale of the public health challenge.
The health experts have repeatedly stressed the importance of immediately washing a dog-bite wound thoroughly with soap and running water and seeking medical attention without delay.
Anti-rabies vaccination and, where medically indicated, rabies immunoglobulin can prevent the disease when administered promptly.
Rabies is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms appear, making timely post-exposure treatment crucial after an exposure to a potentially rabid animal.
