Photo of the week : at least 16 people bitten by stray dogs in Kayanza

At least 16 people from the districts of Kayanza, Gatara and Muruta in Kayanza province (northern Burundi) have been bitten by stray dogs. The population speaks of panic “especially since there are no rabies vaccines in the entire health province of Kayanza”. Hunts are carried out by the administration, the police and the population to kill these stray dogs before they claim more victims.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

According to medical sources in the health province of Kayanza, at least 16 people have already been bitten by stray dogs since the second week of October.

The same sources specify that these dogs are sometimes in groups of two or three and some, according to the victims, look like rabid dogs.

“I saw them in a coffee field. There were three of them. They seemed to be tired perhaps from their hunt. There, one of the three growled and they all came to attack me”, testifies a victim of these stray animals.

She tried to escape but these dogs caught up with her, wounding her at the level of the torso and legs.

“If it hadn’t been for the motorcyclists who came to the scene, these dogs would have devoured me”, continues the victim.

Most affected districts

According to administration and medical sources, the districts of Gatara and Kayanza come first with 6 victims each.

Residents in collaboration with the grassroots administration have already killed 4 and 6 dogs respectively.

Residents who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi speak of dogs whose origin remains unknown.

“Investigations do not prove the origin of these dogs”.

In Muruta district, our sources report that four people were also bitten by these dogs in the villages of Nyamiyogoro and Karunyinya. There, 3 dogs were killed.

Fear and panic among the population

Parents say that “fear has taken over everyone’s minds here”.

“Our children are afraid to go to school alone. We are forced to stop our activities to take them to school”, parents testified.

The provincial administration has ordered the slaughter of all stray dogs, especially in the most affected districts.

“We are forced to move around with batons to protect ourselves against these stray dogs,” said several men from Kayanza.

Other animals attacked

According to residents, the number of dogs attacking people continues to increase.
“Dogs that are bitten by these stray dogs also become dangerous for society.”

Goats that are tied up in the wild suffer the same fate. In the district of Gatara, goats have been bitten. Some have already died.

No anti-rabies vaccines in all health districts of Kayanza

According to medical sources, no health district has anti-rabies vaccines.

The majority of victims are received in health centers with inadequate treatment. The luckiest ones go to the hospital in Ngozi (neighboring province) or to Cibitoke (northwest) and the commercial city of Bujumbura.

Residents are worried about this situation. “Rabies can manifest itself after a few weeks”.

The population of Kayanza pleads for easy and free access to vaccines.

Our photo : a stray dog ​​in the province of Rumonge in southwest Burundi, October 23, 2024 (SOS Médias Burundi)