‘Inadequate treatment’: Karachi reports first rabies case of 2026

WEB DESK: The first rabies case of the year has been confirmed in Karachi after an eight-year-old girl from Sanghar district was diagnosed with the deadly disease on Monday.

According to Express Tribune, the child began showing severe rabies symptoms roughly six weeks after being bitten by a stray dog. She was later admitted to Indus Hospital in Korangi, where doctors confirmed the infection.

Aftab Gohar, manager of the hospital’s Rabies Prevention Clinic, stated that the girl had initially received inadequate treatment at several government hospitals before being referred to Indus. He highlighted that her wound had not been properly cleaned, a critical step in preventing rabies following a bite.

Hospital staff reported that the child is now exhibiting classic rabies symptoms, including hydrophobia (fear of water) and aerophobia (fear of air), suggesting the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Experts emphasise that rabies is almost invariably fatal once symptoms appear.

Indus Hospital has already recorded 1,500 dog-bite cases this year, while Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) has seen 800 cases and Civil Hospital more than 400. Last year, 19 fatalities from rabies were reported at these major hospitals in Karachi.

Medical authorities urge the public to treat dog bites seriously and seek immediate medical care. They recommend thoroughly washing bite wounds with soap and water and completing the full rabies vaccination course promptly, stressing that delayed or inadequate treatment can be fatal.