13 dog-bite cases in a day

Around 13 people were reportedly brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) on Friday for treatment for dog bites, the hospital’s executive director, Dr Seemin Jamali told The News.

“Seven people were brought from only Mehmoodabad alone where apparently the same rabid dog was believed to have attacked them,” Dr Seemin stated. Six other patients were rushed to the medical facility from other parts of the city, she added.

“Among those brought in from Mehmoodabad included a 20-year-old, as well as 72 and 74 year olds,” the executive director informed while sharing details of the cases.

As per Dr Seemin, the hospital had treated at least 6,500 dog-bite cases last year; the patients were administered four to five shots of the anti-rabies vaccine.

However, stray dogs could be seen freely roaming inside premises of the city’s noted hospitals including the JPMC, National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) as well as within bounds of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) office.

Dr Seemin also acknowledged that stray dogs were present inside the JPMC’s premises, stating that, “The hospital administration cannot prevent stray animals from entering the hospital since its gates always remain open, besides dogs easily make their way into the health facility from other entrances.”