Rabies takes lives
Rabies appears to be a new fear for Bhutanese. For two consecutive days, the nation experienced the death of two citizens from dog bite.
A dead body of a boy who dies of the disease remain unclaimed by any person in Phuentsholing hospital since his death on April 23. The boy was bitten by dog a week before.
A new case has been reported in Gelephu hospital. A 36-year old woman died of dog bite on April 24, while undergoing treatment in hospital. It is said, she was bitten by a neighbour’s unvaccinated dog three months ago.
The trend shows poor level of education among local residents on rabies and need for vaccinating their pet dogs and the need for reporting to hospital as soon as bitten by dog. The local authority also remained deaf-ear on educating people on such important health issue.
Currently, some 30 people are receiving vaccination from the hospital against rabies. The number rose abruptly after the woman’s death. Last year two students died of rabies and even after that government took no action.