Dog-mediated rabies, an increasing threat to families in Kenema district: A call for action

Abstract

On 5th December 2022, a stray dog attacked and bit five children, aged between 6 to 10 years in the same community in Kenema District. The children suffered multiple wounds on their bodies and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. The dog was killed, head decapitated and submitted to the Central Veterinary Laboratory/Teko, in Makeni, Bombali District, for confirmation of rabies. The sample was confirmed positive using a direct fluorescent antibody test. The victims of the dog attack were rushed to the Kenema Regional Hospital for treatment. Due to the high cost of the rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccine (rabies vaccine freeze-dried from Liaoning Cheng Da Biotechnology Company Limited (SPEEDA®)), the families could not afford the whole cost of treatment. The victims were only able to receive the first dose of post-exposure vaccination which cost Le 400 per dose (US$ 20.5 equivalent). Upon the intervention of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the children received the complete dose. This is just one among many unreported cases of exposure to dog-mediated rabies within the country.