KARACHI, Sept 28: As many as 40 dog-bite cases on an average are referred to the National Institute of Child Health alone every week, showing an alarming rise in the number of stray dogs in the city.

The number of rabies cases would go much higher if statistics from other hospitals were collected, doctors at the NICH told PPI.

Despite the alarming situation, the city government has not come out with a plan to launch an effective drive to rid citizens of stray dogs.

According to officials at the NICH, between 100 and 200 dog-bite cases are reported at the institute every month. “On Thursday, the institute received six children with dog-bite by noon,” they pointed out.

Most of the cases are reported from Shah Faisal Colony, Landhi, Korangi and Orangi Town, while some other patients come from Malir Extension, Khokhrapar, Lines Area, PECHS, North Nazimabad, etc.

The dog-bite incidents these days take place in night hours, mainly during suspension in power supply.

The doctors said that anti-rabies injections happened to be quite expensive, about Rs.600 each, and as every patients needed to be administered six injections, the cost came to at least Rs3,600. As such, the treatment is not affordable for a person from the low-income group. However, the NICH provides the treatment to children free of cost.

Doctors advise people to handle a dog-bite case by starting first-aid. The dog-bite wound must thoroughly be washed with plenty of soap water to remove as much saliva as possible.

The removal of virus this way should be followed by the application of virucidal solution, such as 70 per cent alcohol. Application of anti-rabies serum then provides immediate blockage of attachment of the virus.—PPI