By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

A human rabies death has been reported in Karachi, according to a Dunya News report. The victim was a 6-year-old boy, resident of Moro area in Sindh province.

Close-up of a dog’s face during late-stage “dumb” paralytic rabies/CDC

The child was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in a critical condition after developing full-blown rabies where he died Tuesday. It is reportedly bitten by a stray dog.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) in mammals. It is mainly spread through bites and scratches from infected animals such as dogs, cats, bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.

The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Appropriate treatment started soon after the exposure, will protect an exposed person from the disease.

Seek emergency medical care immediately after any possible rabies exposure. Once symptoms of rabies develop, no treatment is available, and it is nearly always fatal.