Negligence on the part of the authorities, people feeding stray dogs the main reasons for increasing cases
KARACHI:
A total of 19 people lost their lives in dog bite cases in Karachi, while at least 29,000 dog bite cases were reported in the metropolis so far in 2025.
Areas including Landhi, Korangi, DHA, Mehmoodabad, Orangi Town and Malir have witnessed an increase in the number of stray dogs. Residents complain that attacks have become routine, forcing them to live in constant fear.
Medical experts warn that rabies, once symptoms appear, is incurable. Early signs include headaches and anxiety, but as the disease progresses, patients develop hydrophobia (fear of water) and aerophobia (fear of air and sound). At this stage survival becomes impossible.
Doctors attribute the uncontrolled breeding of stray dogs to Karachi’s overcrowded garbage dumps, which provide the animals with food and shelter. Without proper waste management, the city has inadvertently created fertile ground for the growing menace.
Hospitals overwhelmed
Karachi’s major hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of dog bite victims. At Indus Hospital, almost 150 dog bite cases are reported daily.
Since January, the hospital has treated over 16,000 cases, with eight patients succumbing to rabies. Similarly, Jinnah Hospital has recorded nearly 13,000 cases this year with 11 deaths.
Hospital administrators confirm that about 100 cases arrive daily, ranging from new bites to follow-up treatments.
Dr. Muhammad Aftab Gohar, head of the Rabies Prevention Clinic at Indus Hospital, explained that the cases of rabies are increasing every year.
“If a rabid dog’s saliva enters the bloodstream through a bite, the virus travels via the nervous system to the brain. Symptoms can appear within a period of six weeks to six months,” he said. Once hydrophobia and aerophobia set in, there is no treatment anywhere in the world.
WHO guidelines and preventive measures
According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the first and most crucial step after a dog bite is to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and pour clean water on the wound for at least 10 minutes.
Depending on the severity, patients must then receive anti-rabies vaccines. In cases of moderate risk, a full course of vaccination is administered on the first, third, seventh and fourteenth day.
In severe cases, rabies immunoglobulin is injected directly into and around the wound to provide immediate protection.
Dr. Gohar stressed that timely adherence to these steps ensures 100 percent protection against rabies. However, he lamented that many patients rely on home remedies or receive incomplete treatment at smaller clinics, often leading to fatal outcomes.
He recalled a shocking incident on December 15 in Jumma Goth near Korangi where a single rabid dog mauled 17 people in one day. The number of victims later rose to 28 when several residents reported attacks by the same dog.
“Rabid dogs become aggressive and attack indiscriminately – people, animals or other moving objects such as vehicles.
Hostage for stray dogs
For Karachi’s residents, everyday life has become a struggle. Women report being chased by dogs, while domestic workers are often attacked on their way home. Children picking up groceries or snacks are chased by stray dogs until they drop their belongings in panic and run.
Evening playtime has turned into a nightmare, with dogs attacking cyclists, motorcyclists and young players. Parents often rush to chase the animals away, while terrified children scream and draw the attention of passers-by and call for help.
Residents said they have tried to rehome stray dogs several times, but the animals return. Many are demanding that the government establish proper shelters to house stray dogs. However, the situation is complicated by locals who feed stray dogs, encouraging them to settle permanently in certain neighborhoods.
“They have made our streets their sanctuary and we feel imprisoned in our own homes,” complained one resident.
The crisis underlines the urgent need for a coordinated effort between healthcare providers, municipal authorities and local communities. Experts insist vaccination, awareness and responsible waste management are key to controlling the menace. Until then, Karachi’s citizens remain trapped in fear, with stray dogs making everyday life a dangerous venture.
