SWABI, July 16: Cases of dog-bite are increasing in the district but most of the victims do not receive anti-rabies vaccine.

A person whose sons and other members of family were bitten by a pye-dog, said he had taken them for faith-healing to a Mullah, who advised him that there was no need for a vaccine.

"This trend is very dangerous and people should be educated about this issue," said a doctor. He said people went for faith healing due to poverty and ignorance. A course of anti-rabies vaccine costs about Rs34,000.

In Naro Banda, Maneri Bala, all members of a family, except its head, were bitten by a pye-dog. A villager, Shah Nawaz Khan, said his pet dog bit all his nephews and women in the house.

A man, Fareedullah, was bitten by a mad dog and he went to Islamabad for anti-rabies vaccination. Another person bitten by a mad dog said he had approached a doctor for treatment but also gone form faith-healing. The dog was killed.

A mad jackal entered the residential areas of Topi and reportedly bit some people. Some animals were also bitten by mad dogs in the area. "My pet bulldog was bitten by a pye-dog," said Razam Khan of Maneri Bala.