Nearly 3,000 cases of rat bites reported at Lady Reading Hospital in three months
Residents in more than 50 localities report rat bites daily, as poor sanitation and lack of control measures fuel a growing public health crisis. PHOTO: PEXELS
PESHAWAR:
Eleven-year-old Umair was sleeping alongside his family in their home in the Gunj Gate area of Peshawar when his screams broke the silence of the night. Awakened with a start, his relatives turned on the lights and discovered blood flowing from his foot. Rushing outside, they came face to face with two unusually large rats in the yard – the animals responsible for the attack.
For Umair’s family, the incident was horrific but not unprecedented. The same rodents had previously bitten and injured three other members of the household, turning what should be the security of the home into a source of fear. On the other side of Gunj Gate, dozens of families are experiencing the same nightmare. Residents have repeatedly petitioned city officials and local government, complaining of clogged pipes, overflowing garbage and deteriorating sanitary conditions that have fueled a growing rat infestation.
Yet despite years of complaints, no effective measures have been taken to curb the problem, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable as rats continue to invade homes and attack residents. The crisis extends far beyond Gunj Gate. From Kohati Gate and Qissa Khwani to Lahori Gate, Yakatoot, Beri Bagh, Panch Katha, Malikpura and Chamkani, residents of over 50 districts are reporting a worrying increase in rat attacks, with bites becoming almost a daily occurrence.
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Ayesha Munir, a mother of three from Chamkani, revealed that her five-year-old often picks up and eats things from the floor. “Rats enter homes at night through drains. Although they block many entry points and use poison, the unusually large rats are no longer killed by conventional pesticides. Due to poor sanitation, children often pick up objects from the floor, leading to frequent stomach illnesses,” Ayesha said. Although she filed a complaint through the citizen portal, no action was taken on the matter.
Dr Hazrat Ullah, who worked for many years at Lady Reading Hospital and served as a medical doctor, revealed that whenever a person is bitten by a rat, cat, dog or similar animal, it is essential to receive injections immediately after the bite. “Rat bites generally do not pose a life-threatening risk as they usually occur on less critical parts of the body. However, if newborns or other individuals are bitten on the throat, respiratory tract or other sensitive parts of the body, the situation can become serious,” he noted.
According to information obtained by The Express PK Press ClubLady Reading Hospital alone receives around 900 cases of rat bites per month. In the past three months, nearly 3,000 cases of rat bites have been reported to the hospital, most involving children under 15 years old. These patients were treated at the hospital’s vaccination center. Similarly, dozens of cases are reported daily from Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex.
A senior official of Peshawar’s water and sanitation department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said anti-rat campaigns had been carried out in several areas. “Anti-rat campaigns provide only temporary relief as rodents migrate from neighboring areas. Chronic lack of funding and resources have hampered efforts to control both rat infestations and the growing population of stray dogs,” the official said.
According to sources from The Express PK Press ClubA comprehensive plan was developed by the local government department several years ago in response to the increasing number of rat bite cases in Peshawar. A formal proposal was also prepared, but although two years have passed, it has not been implemented. As a result, the rat population and the number of rat bite incidents in Peshawar continue to increase. However, the administration has so far not given this issue the attention it deserves.
