Rabies still kills thousands in Pakistan

Every year millions of people in Pakistan are bitten by dogs, and thousands are believed to die from  rabies a deadly viral disease that can almost always be prevented with timely treatment.

Health experts say Pakistan still does not have a strong nationwide system to track rabies cases. Because of this around 5,000 people are estimated to lose their lives each year after being bitten by rabid dogs.

Rabies is a viral infection that attacks the brain and nervous system.  Once symptoms appear the disease is almost always fatal with a survival rate of less than 1%.

The first signs of rabies usually develop about six weeks after a bite from an infected animal.

Common symptoms include fever headache body aches a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.  As the disease progresses it becomes much more dangerous.

Children living in rural areas and on the outskirts of cities are among the most affected groups.

A study published in the international journal Acta Tropica found that the high number of rabies cases in Pakistan is linked to low public awareness delays in seeking medical care

and weak disease prevention efforts.

Health experts say that immediate medical treatment after a dog bite including wound cleaning and timely vaccination can prevent rabies.

They also welcomed the federal government’s recent in principle approval of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Framework calling it an important step toward improving rabies prevention and saving lives.