KARACHI, Sept 7: In view of the increasing cases of rabies, caused by dog bites, the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has decided to launch a stray dogs elimination campaign. An agreement was also expected to be reached with a private company in this regard.

The City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, taking serious notice of incidents of dog bites, particularly among children, has directed the health department, CDGK to seek suggestions from the private sector for elimination of stray dogs from the suburban and other city areas.

Following the directives of the city nazim, the health department has asked private companies, having experience of stray dogs elimination campaigns, to submit their proposals with the CDGK by the end of the month.

According to details made available to PPI on Tuesday by officials, over 100 cases of dog bites were reported in Karachi every day, resulting in contraction of the deadly disease, rabies.

Almost all those who contract rabies die within a few months, and its eradication is only possible by eliminating stray dogs, whose population was estimated to be over 100,000 in Karachi.

Officials said that the CDGK had identified rabies as a major health care issue in the city. A tetanus and rabies programme had been established by the CDGK in collaboration with the Infectious Disease Society of Pakistan.

The officials further said that feasibility of a rabies centre in one of CDGK's hospital was in progress where state-of-the-art treatment of the disease would be provided to dog bite victims.

Law making was also underway for mandatory vaccination of pet dogs against rabies, and the CDGK was developing a three-year plan to eradicate rabies. A seminar on "Rabies in Karachi" was scheduled for Sept 9 at the Dow University of Health Sciences. The city nazim would be the chief guest. - PPI