RABIES has consistently emerged as a lethal yet overlooked health concern. Reportedly, the scourge took 22 lives in Sindh this year. Figures from three tertiary care hospitals in Karachi reveal an alarming spike in dog-bite incidents, taking the year’s reported tally to over 42,000 cases. The Indus Hospital recorded over 16,000 dog attack cases, while JPMC and CHK saw 12,000 and 13,000 respectively. Every year an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 people succumb to this excruciatingly painful disease nationwide, which is completely preventable. Rural populations remain the most vulnerable as victims are unable to access timely lifesaving therapy. The pathetic state of Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure leaves victims to face an acute scarcity of post-exposure prophylaxis, and they have little choice but to seek problematic alternative remedies.

The surge in the stray dog population exacerbates an already dire situation. But efforts to control as well as put diseased dogs to sleep must be humane. Despite the production of nearly 80,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccine earlier this year, bureaucratic impediments kept the National Institute of Health from ensuring adequate distribution to hospitals. Full-blown rabies means a fear of water, aerophobia and agitation; children are among the most impacted. Yet the Rabies Control Programme Sindh, which set a target of vaccinating and sterilising 125,000 dogs by mid-2025 along with setting up vaccination centres in 20 districts, remains mired in operational challenges. This does not bode well for the trap-neuter-vaccinate-return programme for dogs. Rabies spread is a ‘mammal to mammal’ phenomenon and health experts believe that immunising 70pc of street dogs can ward off a looming crisis. A safe environment is unattainable without immediate, organised measures to strengthen health units with emergency apparatus and trained medics, and for awareness drives to reach remote areas. If Pakistan continues to fail its citizens, it will fall behind the WHO global goal of eradicating rabies deaths by 2030.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2025