At least seven people have reportedly died of rabies after being bitten by large rodents in the town of Harardhere (4.39N 47.51E), in central Somalia, the BBC reported on Thursday. The attacks of the rodents, which reportedly look like large rats, started 40 days ago, when an 80 year-old woman was attacked and later died. Since then, another 10 people had been attacked, said the BBC. Local authorities are complaining that the local hospital does not have drugs to treat rabies, and some of the victims had to be evacuated to Mogadishu for treatment, according to the BBC. Those most at risk are people who sleep outside at night. The rodents normally attack chickens, small cats and rabbits. – Misanet
Friday October 5, 2001