Negligence of authorities and people feeding stray dogs are the main reasons for the increase in cases
KARACHI:
A total of 19 lives have been lost in dog bite incidents in Karachi, while at least 29,000 dog bite cases have been reported in the metropolis so far in 2025.
Areas such as Landhi, Korangi, DHA, Mehmoodabad, Orangi Town and Malir have seen an increase in stray dog populations. Residents complain that attacks have become commonplace, forcing them to live in constant fear.
Medical experts warn that rabies, once symptoms appear, is incurable. Early signs include headaches and anxiety, but as the disease progresses, patients develop hydrophobia (fear of water) and aerophobia (fear of air and sound). At this point, survival becomes impossible.
Doctors blame uncontrolled breeding of stray dogs on Karachi’s overflowing landfills, which provide food and shelter for the animals. Without proper waste management, the city has inadvertently created a breeding ground for this growing menace.
Hospitals overwhelmed
Karachi’s main hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of dog bite victims. At Indus Hospital, nearly 150 cases of dog bites are reported daily.
Since January, the hospital has treated more than 16,000 cases, and eight patients have died from rabies. Similarly, Jinnah Hospital recorded nearly 13,000 cases this year, with 11 deaths.
Hospital administrators confirm that about 100 cases arrive daily, ranging from new shots to follow-up treatments.
Dr Muhammad Aftab Gohar, director of the rabies prevention clinic at Indus Hospital, said rabies cases are increasing every year.
“If saliva from a rabid dog enters the bloodstream through a bite, the virus spreads via the nervous system to the brain. Symptoms can appear within six weeks to six months,” he explained. Once hydrophobia and aerophobia set in, there is no treatment anywhere in the world.
WHO guidelines and preventive measures
According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the first and most crucial step after a dog bite is to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and pour clean water over the wound for at least 10 minutes.
Depending on the severity, patients should then receive anti-rabies vaccines. For moderate risk cases, a full vaccination is administered on the first, third, seventh and fourteenth day.
In severe cases, rabies immune globulin is injected directly into and around the wound to provide immediate protection.
Dr. Gohar emphasized that timely compliance with these measures ensures 100% protection against rabies. However, he lamented that many patients depend on home remedies or receive incomplete treatment in smaller clinics, which often leads to fatal consequences.
He recalled a shocking incident on December 15 at Jumma Goth near Korangi where a single rabid dog mauled 17 people in a day. The number of victims later rose to 28 as more residents reported attacks by the same dog.
“Rabid dogs become aggressive and attack indiscriminately: humans, animals or other moving objects such as vehicles.
Hostage of stray dogs
For the residents of Karachi, daily life has become a struggle. Women report being chased by dogs, while domestic workers are often attacked on their way home. Children who go to pick up groceries or snacks are chased by stray dogs until they abandon their belongings in panic and run away.
Evening recess turned into a nightmare, with dogs attacking cyclists, motorcyclists and young players. Parents often rush to chase the animals away while terrified children scream and to attract the attention of passers-by and call for help.
Residents said they tried to move the stray dogs several times, but the animals kept coming back. Many are demanding that the government establish proper shelters to house stray dogs. But the situation is complicated by residents who feed stray dogs, encouraging them to settle permanently in certain neighborhoods.
“They have made our streets their sanctuary and we feel imprisoned in our own homes,” complained one resident.
The crisis highlights the urgent need to coordinate efforts between health care providers, municipal authorities and communities. Experts insist that vaccination, awareness and responsible waste management are essential to control the menace. In the meantime, Karachi’s citizens remain trapped in fear as stray dogs turn their daily lives into a dangerous gamble.
