Dozens Injured by Dog Bites in Ibb Amid Rabies Vaccine Shortage

Dozens of citizens, including children, have contracted rabies in Ibb Governorate over the past two days due to stray dog bites. The region, controlled by Houthi militias, is experiencing a widespread proliferation of dogs and a severe shortage of necessary rabies vaccines.

Medical sources reported that numerous individuals, predominantly from rural areas across several districts of the governorate, arrived at the rabies unit affiliated with the Health and Population Office in Ibb seeking treatment following dog attacks. Similar cases were also received by other centers belonging to the rabies unit in various districts, though precise statistics for recent infections remain unavailable.

The sources confirmed that the rabies unit within the Health Office is facing a critical deficit of the required vaccines. Concurrently, these vaccines are being sold in private pharmacies at exorbitant prices. Given that a patient requires five doses of the vaccine, the overall cost becomes prohibitively expensive, exceeding the financial capacity of many Yemeni families and consequently contributing to an increase in fatalities from the disease.

The region's hospitals are also reportedly lacking the essential vaccines, exacerbated by their sharply increased prices. This situation deprives many affected individuals of timely access to preventative treatment.

Residents of Ibb city and its surrounding districts have expressed concern over the continuous rise in the population of stray dogs. This proliferation occurs amidst a noticeable absence of effective measures by the relevant authorities, under Houthi militia control, to curb or combat their spread. Consequently, dozens of dog bite incidents are being reported daily across various parts of the governorate.