Pakistan: 13-year-old boy dies of rabies in Karachi despite being fully vaccinated

In a bizzare incident raising serious concerns over healthcare system in Pakistan, a 13-year-old boy died of rabies even after being vaccinated three months ago.

The teenager was undergoing treatment at a public sector hospital Karachi. The incident came to light on Sunday, Dawn newspaper reported.

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The family members of the patient brought him to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) at around 11 a.m. (local time) on May 26, said Dr Irfan Siddiqi, in-charge of the emergency department.

Dr Siddiqi stated that the boy was bitten by a stray dog roughly three months ago. After that, he received a full dose of immunisation at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Despite being fully vaccinated, the child’s health started deteriorating.

Doctors at JPMC shared that the teenager was suffering from fever for 10 days, fits for one day as well as irritability (hydrophobia), when his family members brought him to the hospital.

“He was admitted to the neuromedical ward where he expired during treatment at 3:30 p.m. on the same day,” Dr Siddiqi said.

The boy belonged to a poor family in the city and was a labourer by profession.