AWEIL—A five-year-old returnee child has died after being bitten by a suspected rabid stray dog in the Riang-Anei neighborhood, Gok-Machar area of Aweil North County in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, a community leader said.
The five-year-old child, identified as Kuol Garang, died on July 30 after developing severe symptoms believed to be linked to the dog bite, including excessive salivation and unusual barking, according to community leaders.
Sultan Deng Ngong, chief of the returnee community in Riang-Anei, said the incident occurred while the child was at home after his parents had gone to the market to look for basic needs.
“The mysterious incident occurred on Thursday last week after the child began showing symptoms associated with a suspected rabid dog bite, including unusual barking and excessive salivation,” Deng told this publication on Sunday.
Deng explained that the family had recently returned from Sudan earlier this year and were among returnees living in difficult conditions in Riang-Anei, where many families lack proper shelter and access to immediate medical services.
“The incident occurred shortly after the child’s parents had gone to the market in search of basic necessities. The victim, five-year-old Kuol Garang, was bitten by a stray dog believed to have been rabid. At around 3:00 PM, he began developing severe symptoms, including unusual barking,” he narrated.
Deng cautioned community members against failing to vaccinate domestic animals, particularly dogs, and urged families to ensure children are properly supervised to prevent similar incidents.
“The situation worsened and eventually claimed the child’s life. As returnees living in open spaces at Riang-Anei lack the necessary resources and support to respond to such emergencies, making it difficult to prevent similar incidents from occurring.”
The incident comes amid growing concerns over suspected rabies cases in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, with local officials urging communities to seek immediate medical attention after animal bites.
Lual Aleu Jok, the state focal person for rabies-related cases, warned residents against relying on traditional remedies, including the use of animal skins or other unverified treatments, after dog bites.
He advised people bitten by suspected rabid animals to immediately visit the nearest health facility or seek further treatment at Aweil State Hospital.
However, residents say lack of financial means remains a major challenge, with some families unable to afford transportation costs or payments required to access vaccines in Aweil town, leaving victims at greater risk of complications and death.
Health authorities have continued to call for increased public awareness, dog vaccination campaigns, and improved access to rabies vaccines to prevent further deaths.
