Teenager scratched by rabid dog in Tbilisi found vaccinated

A teenager in Tbilisi, who was scratched by a rabid dog a few days ago, on Wednesday appeared at the Bokeria clinic with his parents.

According to available information, the 14-year-old has already received three rabies vaccines. However, the clinic told the media the parents prefer not to engage with the media, leading to a lack of detailed information.

Tsitso Dilebashvili, the head of the Tbilisi Municipal Epidemic Surveillance and Control Center, confirmed to Radio Liberty that the teenager indeed received three rabies vaccines.

The National Food Agency was informed on Monday about the incident involving the teenager’s dog scratch. The informant revealed that the dog, responsible for the scratch, had succumbed. A request for testing the deceased dog for rabies was made.

Responding to the inquiry, the National Food Agency disclosed on the Tuesday evening that the dog had been diagnosed with rabies. Urgent efforts were then initiated to locate the affected teenager.

Identifying the child proved challenging due to the lack of camera coverage in the vicinity of the Gulf gas station on the Kakheti highway where the incident occurred.

The rabies vaccine is imperative when a person is bitten, scratched, or has saliva come into contact with an open wound due to an animal encounter. The vaccination process may involve multiple injections, typically determined by the treating physician. Rabies, if left untreated, can be fatal.