Officials in Karachi, Pakistan reported an additional human rabies death this week in a man from Qayyumabad, a suburb of the city, bringing the total human rabies deaths this year in Karachi to 18.
The latest case was bitten by a stray dog around two months ago but did not receive the recommended anti-rabies vaccination.
More than 30,000 dog-bite cases have been reported in Karachi this year. Of the 18 rabies-related deaths, 11 were reported at Indus Hospital and seven at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).
Rabies is an acute viral infection that is transmitted to humans or other mammals usually through the saliva from a bite of an infected animal. It is also rarely contracted through breaks in the skin or contact with mucous membranes.
According to the Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, all mammals are susceptible to rabies. Raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs, coyotes and cats are the likely suspects. Other animals like otters and ferrets are also high risk. Mammals like rabbits, squirrels, rodents and opossums are rarely infected.
Infected animals can appear very aggressive, attacking for no reason. Some may act very tame. They may looks like they are foaming at the mouth or drooling because they cannot swallow their saliva. Sometimes the animal may stagger (this can also be seen in distemper). Not long after this point they will die. Most animals can transmit rabies days before showing symptoms.
Initially, like in many diseases, the symptoms of human rabies are non-specific; fever, headache and malaise. This may last several days. At the site of the bite there may be some pain and discomfort. Symptoms then progress to more severe: confusion, delirium, abnormal behavior and hallucinations. If it gets this far, the disease is nearly 100% fatal.
Accordng to the US CDC, rabies in humans is completely preventable, but you must get medical help right away. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)- wound care, rabies vaccine series and human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) - and it’s highly effective if you get it as soon as possible after exposure. If you’ve been in contact with any wildlife or unfamiliar animals, particularly if you’ve been bitten or scratched, do the following:
Wash any wounds immediately with soap and water for 15 minutes to flush out any virus.
Talk with a healthcare or public health professional about your risk and if you need rabies-related care.
Tell your healthcare provider or public health professional about the type of animal you encountered.
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