Dog bites 20 people in Tonj South

About 20 people are receiving treatments for dog bites at a health facility in Tonj South after they were bitten by an astray dog, an official has said.

The “mad dog”, a police officer says, started attacking people at Mayen and Malith markets early on Thursday morning.

By noon, it had already bitten the 2oth person before the residents killed it.

“It started attacking people in Mayen market near the airstrip. In the evening at Malith market, the dog that was biting the people was killed by the people in the area,” said 1st Lt. David Bol, county police inspector.

Some of the victims include women, children, and the elderly, some of whom were transferred to Wau for specialized medical attention.

A dog bite can lead to rabies or tetanus infection. Immediate medical care is required when the bite is from a dog that has, or might have, rabies, doctors say.
Symptoms of infection include redness, swelling, increased pain and oozing. A doctor should look at these symptoms right away.
Bite wounds from dogs can range from minor to life-threatening and need to be treated quickly to prevent infection or traumatic complications. Not having had a tetanus shot in five or more years increases tetanus risk and a booster shot may be recommended.
However, Bol said he was not sure whether it was the same dog that attacked and injured people in the area.

“The stray dogs are very many in Tonj South town. Is not clear whether the dog that attacked people is responsible for all the dog bites that day.”

He added that dog bites have claimed four lives since the first death was recorded in Tonj South County in 2022.

Mayardit FM’s attempts to reach the health director in Tonj South County to confirm whether the health institution has anti-rabies vaccines were not immediately successful.