Sindh Launches Rabies Drive After 85,000 Dog-Bite Cases

Sindh has launched a province-wide rabies prevention campaign after authorities reported 85,891 dog-bite cases in just the first four months of 2026, highlighting a growing public health challenge across urban and rural areas. The campaign was announced in Karachi during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House.

Officials briefed the chief minister that the scale of the problem remains alarming, with more than 285,000 dog-bite cases recorded in Sindh during 2025. Major hospitals also documented 22 rabies-related deaths last year, underscoring the life-threatening consequences when victims do not receive timely vaccines, immunoglobulin or follow-up care.

The provincial government said the new campaign will focus on awareness, treatment access, vaccine availability and stray dog population management. Health facilities across the province have been directed to maintain supplies of anti-rabies vaccines and Rabies Immunoglobulin so that patients are not turned away due to shortages.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the province could not allow preventable rabies deaths to continue because the disease can be controlled through timely treatment and public education. He stressed that health departments, local bodies, rescue services, media platforms and community organisations would need to work together for an effective response.

The meeting was informed that Sindh has already established 278 WHO-standard Rabies Prevention Units as primary treatment points for dog-bite victims. Another 112 referral centres have been activated for severe exposure cases, while vaccine doses have reportedly been provided for more than 63,000 patients and eRIG treatment for over 8,700 people under the ongoing programme.

Officials also reviewed progress under the Sindh Rabies Control Programme, which was launched in 2022 and currently operates in 20 districts. According to the briefing, more than 25,500 stray dogs have been neutered or spayed, while over 36,900 have been vaccinated through centres working in Karachi, Matiari, Dadu, Tando Allahyar and other districts.

Health Minister Dr Azra Fazl Pechuho said 11 additional centres would soon become functional in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Jamshoro, Khairpur, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and other areas. The expansion is expected to reduce pressure on major hospitals and improve access for residents in districts where dog-bite treatment has often been delayed or difficult to obtain.

The government also plans a seven-day public awareness drive through television, print, social media, schools and community outreach. The campaign will explain first aid after dog bites, the importance of immediate medical attention, the need for completing vaccine courses and the dangers of ignoring even minor wounds.

A digital ARV Patient Tracking System was also discussed as part of the province’s monitoring plan. Authorities said real-time tracking of dog-bite cases, vaccine administration and follow-up doses could improve accountability, reduce missed treatments and help officials identify high-risk locations for targeted action.

The campaign carries major implications for public health in Sindh, where dense cities, weak municipal systems and growing stray dog populations have turned rabies prevention into an urgent governance issue. The next test for the provincial administration will be whether it can keep treatment centres staffed, maintain vaccine supplies and convert the campaign into a sustained reduction in dog-bite injuries and rabies deaths.