Rabies in Multan District: A Comprehensive Study of Current Status

Abstract Rabies is a deadly viral disease that remains a significant public health threat in Pakistan. This study aims to analyze the trend of rabies cases in Pakistan over the past five years (2018-2022). The data was collected from different hospitals in various cities of Pakistan. The results indicate that the number of rabies cases has been steadily increasing each year, with the highest number of cases reported in 2021. The mortality rate remained consistently high, ranging from 93% to 97%. Furthermore, the study found that the vaccination status in Pakistan is not good, with issues like poor administration, lack of availability, and inadequate interaction between hospitals and vaccination centers. The lack of funds to manufacture vaccines and the absence of a proper system to store vaccines are also major challenges. In 2022, Rabipur vaccines were used for the first time in Pakistan, which were found to be effective if administered immediately after a person or animal is bitten by a rabid animal. However, it should be noted that the data for the Multan district was not available, and therefore, a comparison with previous years for this area was not possible. The findings of this study highlight the need for improved vaccination policies and administration to control the spread of rabies in Pakistan