Rabid dog bites 18 in Kano community

At least 18 people have reportedly been bitten by a dog suspected to be infected with rabies in Garko Local Government Area of Kano State.

The Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Garko Division, has launched a search operation for the dog and two others suspected to have contracted the disease.

The NFSS Kano Command, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, CSF Usman Abdullahi Umar, said the incident followed a distress report received by its Garko office.

According to the statement, the dog initially attacked and bit 11 people in Garko town before moving to neighbouring communities, where seven others were bitten in Raba, Kadage, Gurjiya and Dausai.

It said two additional dogs were also suspected to have contracted rabies, prompting NFSS officers, led by the Divisional Forest Officer, Auwalu Muhammad, to begin operations to locate and neutralise the suspected infected animals.

The Service urged residents to remain vigilant, report stray dogs or animals showing signs of rabies to security agencies and seek immediate medical attention after any dog bite or exposure to a suspected infected animal.