Health Ministry issues alert about well-traveled dog that bit a woman and died of rabies

The mixed-breed dog could have been in contact with over 1,000 people between May 3 and 17, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Four-year-old British Bulldog "Bobo" skateboards past office workers during evening rush hour at Singapore's central business district (photo credit: REUTERS)
Four-year-old British Bulldog "Bobo" skateboards past office workers during evening rush hour at Singapore's central business district
(photo credit: REUTERS)
A peripatetic, medium-sized, brownand- white female dog managed to wander from Mount Meron to Holon, where it bit a woman before dying of rabies.
The mixed-breed dog could have been in contact with more than 1,000 people between May 3 and 17, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
The ministry urged anyone who was in contact with the dog to go to their nearest district health office or hospital emergency room.
The bitch, about 18 years old, was first seen at the Lag Ba’omer festivities near the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai on May 7, where thousands had congregated for the holiday. Two people picked up the stray dog and took her to their home in Holon.
The next day, she was examined by a veterinarian in the city and remained with the adopting family until the 16th. The day before, the dog bit a woman.
On the 16th, the dog was taken to the SOS dog shelter in Herzliya and treated by a veterinarian and volunteers.
The following day the dog died and soon after it was confirmed that she was infected with the disease, which is fatal to mammals and humans.
The ministry is trying to alert those who were near the cave and in touch with the dog or other mammals. Those who were in direct contact with the dog should contact the district veterinarian to determine whether they need the prophylactic rabies vaccine.
THIS DOG migrated from Mount Meron to Holon between May 3 and 17 and bit a woman before dying of rabies. The Health Ministry warns anyone who may have had contact with it to get medical attention.
(Health Ministry) THIS PHOTODIODE retinal prosthesis was subretinally implanted in a rat’s eye. (Palanker Lab)