Rabies death toll rises to 40 in Sindh after elderly man dies

Karachi, Sindh saw the death toll from rabies rise to 40 this year, as officials announced on Friday. The victim, an elderly man from Baldia Town, succumbed to the disease at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) on Thursday. The 70-year-old had been bitten by a dog over three weeks ago but did not seek preventive treatment. JPMC has recorded more than 11,000 dog bite cases and 10 rabies deaths this year, including the latest fatality.

Recently, a 38-year-old man from Diplo, Tharparkar, and a 12-year-old boy from Hyderabad also died of rabies. Experts warn that many rabies cases go unreported due to patients relying on home remedies or faith healers instead of medical care. They stressed the importance of public awareness, controlling the dog population humanely, and ensuring hospitals have the necessary treatment.

While dog bites are the primary cause of rabies, exposure to potentially rabid wild animals can also transmit the virus. Early wound cleaning, timely vaccination, and rabies immunoglobulin can effectively prevent the disease, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.