HUBBALLI: The Hubbali Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) is facing the ire of residents after a seven-year-old boy who was bitten by stray dogs earlier this month died, apparently as there was no follow-up anti-rabies treatment.
Afridi Bepari, student of class two and resident of Mantur Road in Hubballi, was bitten by a stray while going to school on November 9. He was initially treated at Chitaguppi Hospital and later he was shifted to KIMS.
Hubballi residents alleged that doctors at the Chitaguppi Hospital did not give the boy proper treatment, and his condition had turned serious by the time he was shifted to KIMS.
The health officer HDMC, Dr Prabhu Biradar said the hospital did administer the anti-rabies vaccine to the boy but his parents did not come back for a follow-up.
HDMC commissioner Siddalingayya Hiremath said extermination of stray dogs was not an option as it would be ineffective. “The only thing we can do is neuter the dogs. Citizens too should help us by not throwing rubbish by the roadside,” he said.