The death of a young Iraqi man following a rabies infection after a stray dog bite has sparked widespread controversy, while his family accuses the medical authorities of negligence amid questions about the preventive measures in place, more than 40 days after the incident.
According to circulating video clips, the young man was walking on one of the streets in the Ameriyah area west of Baghdad in early November, before being suddenly attacked and bitten by a stray dog in broad daylight, who then fled the scene.
The young man, named Hamza, 36 years old and a delivery worker, was taken to a nearby hospital where his wound was dressed and stitched, and he received a rabies vaccine, according to local sources.
Weeks after the incident, Hamza began to exhibit worrying symptoms, including fever, severe fatigue, hydrophobia, excessive salivation, along with panic attacks and severe neuralgic pain—advanced symptoms of the rabies virus, known for its severe danger.
Despite attempts to save him, the young man died after a battle lasting about 40 days, in an incident that refocused attention on the danger of the disease and the medical procedures followed after being bitten.
The young man's family held medical authorities responsible for what happened, pointing out the absence of specialized medical staff in the emergency department at his first visit, questioning the effectiveness of the vaccines he received, and confirming that the intervention was not at the required level, while there has been no official comment from the Ministry of Health or security agencies regarding the incident’s circumstances or the results of the investigations.
In the same context, local reports indicated an increase in incidents of rabid dog attacks in several Iraqi areas, raising widespread concerns among the residents. Specialists believe that the increased aggressiveness of dogs indicates a potential spread of the rabies virus, a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system, with a mortality rate reaching 100% if symptoms appear.
Health experts warn that the speed of disease progression depends on the location of the bite; the closer the injury is to the brain, such as the face or neck, especially if the wounds are deep, the higher the risk.
Specialists confirm that rabies is entirely preventable if the injury is treated immediately by thoroughly washing the wound with soap and water for no less than 15 minutes and urgently heading to health centers to receive preventive vaccines before symptoms appear.
