KARACHI: Health officials confirmed on Thursday that a 42-year-old woman has died from rabies after being bitten by a mongoose, marking the first reported rabies death of 2026 linked to such an incident.
Details of the Incident
According to a spokesperson for the Indus Hospital, the woman was a resident of Jacobabad and had been bitten by a mongoose approximately two weeks prior to her death. She did not seek medical treatment nor receive an anti-rabies vaccination following the bite.
Medical Expert Commentary
Doctors emphasized that the lack of timely post-exposure prophylaxis proved fatal. Rabies is nearly 100 percent preventable if treated promptly after a bite. Aftab Gohar, a hospital official, confirmed that this is the first documented rabies death of the year caused by a mongoose bite.
Rabies Deaths in 2026
Hospital officials further reported that rabies continues to claim lives in the country. So far in 2026, nine deaths have been recorded at Indus Hospital alone, underscoring the ongoing public health challenge.
Health authorities urge anyone bitten by an animal to seek immediate medical attention and receive the rabies vaccine to prevent such tragedies.
