Stray dogs have created fear and panic in Karachi as incidents of dog bites continue to rise, turning into a city-wide public health concern, with more than 850 people bitten in just the first seven days of the year — including over 300 children.

Most reported cases emerged from Korangi, Landhi, Baldia, Gadap Town and Hub areas, where suspected rabies-infected dogs are roaming freely.

Indus Hospital Korangi alone received around 300 bite victims, many of them under five years of age.

Professor Dr Naseem Salahuddin of Indus Hospital termed the statistics extremely alarming, warning that children are at serious risk of a preventable yet deadly disease.

Hundreds more victims were also treated at Jinnah, Civil and other government hospitals.

Doctors say the growing population of stray dogs, poor waste management, and lack of coordinated vaccination and neutering programs have worsened the problem.

They stressed that while treatment saves lives, prevention is the real solution; Karachi’s children will remain vulnerable to such dangerous attacks.