In a tragic event, a seven-month-old infant from Kamiriyan village in Pakpattan died after being mauled by a stray dog. The stray dog had entered the house and attacked the baby. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the child succumbed to his injuries on the way. The incident prompted local residents to catch and beat the dog to death.
This heartbreaking incident highlights a broader issue in Pakistan, where dog-bite cases have seen a dramatic increase. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) sources, 5,641 dog-bite cases were reported across Pakistan in just one week. Punjab topped the list with 3,264 cases, followed by Sindh with 1,601 cases. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 615 cases, Balochistan had 80 cases, Azad Kashmir saw 75 cases, and Gilgit-Baltistan reported 6 cases.
The previous month saw an even more alarming rise, with 7,957 dog-bite cases reported within a single week across the country. This surge in incidents has put a significant strain on medical resources and raised public concern.
In response to this crisis, the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) in Karachi has taken a significant step by launching its own anti-rabies vaccine (ARV), named DowRab. This vaccine is intended to help victims of dog bites in Sindh, providing a critical resource in the fight against rabies and other complications resulting from dog attacks.
The rise in dog-bite cases underscores the urgent need for effective measures to control stray dog populations and ensure public safety. The introduction of DowRab is a positive development, but addressing the root causes of the issue, such as stray dog management and public awareness, remains crucial to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
