Stray dogs kill two, hurt 24 in Mogadishu

Associated Press


MOGADISHU, SOMALIA -- Dozens of stray dogs believed to have rabies attacked residents of an impoverished Mogadishu neighborhood, killing two children and injuring 24 other people, health officials said Tuesday.

Six children, eight women and 12 men were admitted to the Habeb Hospital with bite wounds, nurse Abdurahman Ali Awaleh said.

Two boys, ages 5 and 6, later died from loss of blood, he said.

"I did not provoke the dog," said one of the injured, 11-year-old Dahir Afdhub Hassan, who said he was attacked when he left his house Tuesday. "I tried to defend myself by both screaming and kicking."

Hospital officials say they fear many of the victims will die if infected with rabies, which is fatal unless treated with an expensive course of vaccinations that is not available in Mogadishu.

It was unclear how many dogs were involved, but police said it could have been dozens. Police have killed some of the animals.

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