Rabies kills seven people

PADANG, Sumatra: A rabies epidemic in the province has intensified in recent months with seven people reported to have died from the infectious disease.

Antara said that almost every provincial husbandry office received reports about people bitten by rabid dogs.

Between April and September, 479 people were bitten by dogs carrying the disease. Of these, 275 developed full-blown rabies.

Chief of the husbandry office Tazril Tembok said that in September alone, 18 people were bitten by dogs with rabies in the Lubukgasung, Angkat Candung and Baso districts. One of the victims has since died. (par)