Three die of dog bites

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Three of 12 people reported to have been bitten by dogs over the past 10 days have died, Antara reported yesterday.

The incidents in the Kendari and Buton regencies, have sparked fears of a rabies outbreak.

The provincial husbandry office chief, Hasan Mardiono, said the three deaths occurred in Rumbia subdistrict in Buton regency.

Hasan said it had not yet established whether the three died of rabies or another disease they had contracted previously.

"If they died after two weeks from the incident, they have been infected by rabies but if less than two weeks, they may have died of other diseases, such as tetanus," he said. (pan)