KASUR: A teenager who was bitten by a dog two months ago died in Jawahar Singhwala on Monday.

According to villager Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Taimoor, 16, was initially treated in the village before he started showing symptoms of rabies, including hydrophobia and photophobia, a few weeks later. Due to his deteriorating condition a week ago, his family rushed him to Khudian Rural Health Centre from where he was referred to the Mayo Hospital in Lahore. From there he was taken to a private hospital when his condition did not improve.

Disappointed with the hospital’s treatment, Taimoor’s family took him to a faith healer in Renala Khurd, which did not help either and he died in his village on Monday.

According to Dr Adnan Mahmood of Ashraf Medical Complex, it could take up to 20 years before a patient showed symptoms of rabies after being bitten by an animal that carried the disease. He stressed that it was imperative to inculcate awareness about rabies.

According to a report in a local newspaper, at least 5,000 people die every year of rabies and non-availability of proper clinical treatment in Pakistan.

ACCIDENT: Lodhran District Police Officer (DPO) Asad Sarfraz Khan and his driver suffered serious injuries as a result of an accident with a speeding tractor trolley on Monday.

The accident occurred near a factory on Multan Road. According to police, the DPO was on his way to Lahore from Lodhran when the trolley collided with his car. The DPO and his driver were rushed to Phoolnagar trauma centre. The trolley driver managed to escape from the scene, but local police impounded the vehicle and initiated investigations.

ROBBERY: Phoolnagar police on Monday entered a case against seven unidentified robbers who allegedly stole raw material and machinery worth Rs5.5 million from a local factory on Gaga Road on Sunday night.

The factory’s security guard alleged that the suspects raped him, but a medical report concluded the allegation was untrue.

Police investigation into the robbery was under way.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2017