The Sindh government has issued a public awareness advisory urging citizens to seek immediate medical treatment after dog bites and warning about the potentially fatal risks of rabies if proper care is delayed.
According to the advisory, dog bites should never be treated as a minor injury. Health authorities emphasized that rabies is a serious viral disease that can be fatal once symptoms appear, making prompt treatment essential for survival.
The government advised that anyone bitten by a dog should remain calm and immediately wash the wound thoroughly with clean running water and soap for at least 20 minutes.
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After washing the wound, victims are urged to visit the nearest hospital or Anti-Rabies Unit without delay.
Health officials stressed that anti-rabies vaccination should be administered according to medical recommendations and that timely treatment remains the most effective protection against the disease.
To improve access to treatment, the Sindh government announced that 278 Anti-Rabies Units have been established across the province.
Among these facilities, 112 have been designated as referral centers equipped to handle complex or severe cases that require specialized medical attention.
Officials said the network of Anti-Rabies Units has been developed to ensure that people living in both urban and rural areas can quickly access life-saving treatment following animal bites.
Authorities also encouraged parents to educate children about avoiding contact with stray animals and reporting animal bites immediately to family members or healthcare providers.
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Citizens seeking information about the nearest Anti-Rabies Unit or referral center can contact Rescue 1122 for assistance. Information regarding treatment facilities is also available through the Sindh government’s anti-rabies information portal.
Health officials reiterated that delaying medical care after a dog bite can have life-threatening consequences. They stressed that immediate wound washing, rapid medical evaluation, and completion of the prescribed vaccination course are critical steps in preventing rabies.
The advisory comes amid growing concerns over the increasing number of stray dog bite cases reported across Sindh, including Karachi.
The issue gained renewed attention after a 14-year-old boy in Karachi reportedly died from rabies last week following a stray dog bite, despite having received an anti-rabies vaccine shortly after the incident.
The case has raised concerns among health experts and the public regarding rabies prevention, treatment protocols, and the growing stray dog problem in the city.
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The victim, Ali Fahad, a resident of Ali Goth in New Karachi, died on May 26, 2026, at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. His death has brought the number of reported rabies fatalities in Karachi this year to 10.
According to media reports, the teenager was brought to the hospital in critical condition with advanced symptoms of rabies and could not be saved.
Family Questions Vaccine Effectiveness
According to family members, Ali Fahad was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital immediately after being bitten by a stray dog, where he received an anti-rabies vaccine.
The family has questioned how the disease progressed despite the reported vaccination and has called for an investigation into the quality, storage, and administration of the vaccine.
Medical experts note that rabies prevention depends on several factors, including the severity and location of the bite, wound cleaning, timely vaccination, and, in high-risk cases, administration of rabies immunoglobulin.
A vaccine alone may not always be sufficient if post-exposure treatment protocols are incomplete.
Karachi Facing Growing Dog Bite Crisis
Health authorities say Karachi is experiencing a significant increase in stray dog bite incidents.
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According to provincial medical sources, more than 20,000 dog bite cases have been reported at hospitals across the city so far this year.
Officials confirmed that 10 people have died from rabies in 2026, including four patients treated at JPMC and six at Indus Hospital. Health officials stated that none of the patients who developed clinical rabies survived.
