Karachi: An 8-year-old girl from Jhol, District Sanghar, has been diagnosed with rabies, marking the first confirmed rabies case of 2026, officials and healthcare providers said on Monday.
According to Indus Hospital Karachi, the child was bitten by a stray dog one and a half months ago, sustaining multiple deep wounds. She reportedly visited several public sector health facilities where post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was administered; however, the treatment was inadequate and poorly documented, and rabies vaccination was not properly administered.
Hospital officials stated that the child has now developed hydrophobia (fear of water) and aerophobia (fear of air) — clear signs of advanced rabies encephalitis.
The patient has been shifted to Indus Hospital Karachi, where she is currently receiving palliative care.
Health authorities confirmed that this is the first rabies case reported in 2026, while more than 3,000 dog bite cases have been recorded this month alone.
Medical experts have warned that immediate and thorough wound washing with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, along with timely and complete administration of rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin, is the only effective way to prevent rabies after a dog bite.
Last year, 21 people died of rabies in Sindh, and over 60,000 dog bite cases were reported across the province.
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