7-year-old boy in Nghe An dies suspected of being bitten by a rabid dog

On the morning of April 29, the family was preparing to bury Ha Danh D. (7 years old, Ma Thanh commune, Yen Thanh). Meanwhile, many people in the neighborhood rushed to take their children to get rabies vaccinations after the death of this boy.

According to Mr. Bui Trong Long - Secretary of the Party Committee of Ma Thanh commune, more than 10 days ago, after a funeral in the village, this boy suddenly showed unusual symptoms. "He often vomited and talked nonsense. Many times when guests came, he spat continuously, was delirious all day, and refused to eat or sleep," said Mr. Long.

The family then took the child to Yen Thanh District General Hospital. However, the doctors there could not find the disease so the child was sent home. In the following days, the child's symptoms became more severe.

On April 28, the baby was taken to the International Hospital, which then transferred the patient to Nghe An Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital.

According to Dr. Tang Xuan Hai - Director of Nghe An Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, at this time the doctors determined that the child had rabies and was having an attack. "By the time the child was brought to the hospital, it was too late, there was no way to save him," said Dr. Hai.

According to family members, about 2 months ago the child was playing with a strange dog and was bitten. Illustrative photo

On the same afternoon, the child was taken home by his family after the doctors announced that it was "too late". Because of the "while there is life, there is hope" mentality, the family heard that a traditional healer in Long Thanh commune could cure many diseases, so on the way home, the family took the child straight there. There, the traditional healer prescribed a dose of medicine for the child. But that same evening, after taking the traditional healer's medicine for more than 4 hours, the child died," said the Party Secretary of Ma Thanh commune, who is also the boy's neighbor.

According to Mr. Long, after the doctors determined that the child had rabies, his family remembered that about 2 months ago, the child had played with a strange dog and was bitten. This dog is now missing.

Currently, the health department has sent people to the family to investigate the incident.