Girl (5) dies after being bitten by rabid dog

REDCLIFF – A five-year-old girl died after she was bitten by a rabid dog in Torwood high density
suburb last week.
The death of the girl was confirmed by a Kwekwe Environmental Health Technician at Ministry of
Health and Child Care who encouraged residents to vaccinate their dogs against rabies and to report
any cases of dog bites.
“On record, last Thursday, we lost a five-year old girl from Torwood due to rabies. We have several
cases of people who are sick after being bitten by dogs. Actually, rabies cases are on the increase.
Also get treatment if you are bitten by a dog as soon as possible,” said the official.
The Environmental Health Technician pleaded with people to have their dogs vaccinated.
Kwekwe’s Veterinary Services Dr. Tapiwanashe Mukorovi confirmed that the Torwood girl was not
vaccinated against rabies and only received a tetanus shot after being bitten by a stray dog.
“Dog owners should have their dogs vaccinated once every year against rabies. Puppies can be
vaccinated in three months and thereafter once every year. By doing so, we can manage to deal with
the scourge against rabies,” said Dr. Mukorovi.
He said they will continue with vaccination campaigns against rabies in the district.
“Every working day we vaccinate dogs against rabies. The most important thing is compliancy on the
part of dog owners as some last vaccinated their dogs way back in 2020. It only cost US$1 to
vaccinate a dog for the whole year while the human vaccine for rabies cost US$100,” said Dr.
Mukorovi.
According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, the dog population in Kwekwe district stood
at 21 739.