Negligence on part of authorities, people feeding stray dogs main reasons behind rising cases
KARACHI:
A total of 19 lives were lost in dog bite incidents 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 a surge in stray dog populations. 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 overflowing garbage dumps, which provide food and shelter for the animals. Without proper waste management, the city has inadvertently created breeding grounds for the growing threat.
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 around 100 cases arrive daily, ranging from new bites to follow-up treatments.
Dr Muhammad Aftab Gohar, manager of the Rabies Prevention Clinic at Indus Hospital, explained that rabies cases are rising 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 may appear within a period of six weeks to six months,” he said. Once hydrophobia and aerophobia set in, no treatment exists 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. For moderate-risk cases, a full vaccination course 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 emphasised that timely adherence to these steps ensures 100 per cent protection against rabies. However, he lamented that many patients rely on home remedies or receive incomplete treatment at smaller clinics, which often leads 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 as more residents reported attacks by the same dog.
“Rabid dogs become aggressive and attack indiscriminately—humans, animals, or other moving objects like vehicles.
Hostage to stray dogs
For Karachi’s residents, daily life has become a struggle. Women report being chased by dogs, while domestic workers are often attacked on their way to home. Children fetching groceries or snacks are pursued by stray dogs until they drop their belongings in panic and run.
Evening playtime has turned into a nightmare, with dogs attacking cyclists, bikers and young players. Parents often rush to chase the animals away as terrified children scream and to draw attention of passers by and call for help.
Residents said they have tried relocating stray dogs multiple times, but the animals return. Many demand that the government establish proper shelter homes to house stray dogs. However, the situation is complicated by locals who feed stray dogs, encouraging them to settle permanently in certain neighbourhoods.
“They have made our streets their sanctuary, and we feel imprisoned in our own homes,” one resident complained.
The crisis highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts between healthcare providers, municipal authorities, and communities. Experts insist that vaccination, awareness, and responsible waste management are key to controlling the menace. Until then, Karachi’s citizens remain trapped in fear, with stray dogs turning everyday life into a dangerous gamble.
