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

Karachi reported that a 70-year-old man succumbed to rabies at a local hospital, pushing this year's fatality count for the deadly virus in Sindh to 40, officials disclosed on Friday. The victim, a resident of Baldia Town, sustained a bite from a dog roughly three weeks prior but neglected to seek preventive care, ultimately succumbing at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) on Thursday.

JPMC has logged over 11,000 dog bite incidents and 10 rabies-related deaths this year, encompassing the most recent fatality. Recently, a 38-year-old man from Diplo in Tharparkar and a 12-year-old boy from Hyderabad also perished due to rabies. Experts warn that a significant number of rabies cases remain unreported, as patients often turn to home remedies or faith healers for "treatment" instead.

They stress the importance of heightened public awareness, responsible management of the dog population, and the provision of suitable medical treatment in hospitals. Although dog bites constitute the majority of rabies cases, exposure to potentially rabid wild animals can also spread the virus. Upon exposure, immediate wound cleansing, prompt rabies vaccination, and administration of rabies immunoglobulin, if necessary, can effectively prevent the disease, which is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms manifest.