A tragic incident has left a community in Shangla reeling, highlighting the urgent need for action on multiple fronts. A young life lost to rabies, despite timely treatment, has sparked a crucial conversation about public health and safety.
In the Makhozi area of Puran tehsil, a nine-year-old girl, Anab, suffered a fatal encounter with a stray dog. Despite immediate vaccination, she succumbed to rabies, raising alarming questions.
But here's where it gets controversial... The effectiveness of the anti-rabies vaccine is now under scrutiny. According to locals, Anab received the vaccine promptly after the dog bite, but tragically, it wasn't enough.
The incident occurred in the Makhuzi area of Shangla district, where the girl, a resident of Sangrai, was bitten on the face, close to the brain. This proximity, according to hospital officials, may have impacted the vaccine's ability to protect her.
However, health experts urge us to consider other critical factors. They emphasize that the quality of the vaccine, the health of the dog, and proper storage protocols must also be investigated thoroughly.
And this is the part most people miss... The growing stray dog population in Shangla and the apparent lack of control measures have residents outraged and concerned. This incident has brought to light the urgent need for comprehensive animal control and public health strategies.
Citizens and health activists are demanding a thorough inquiry, not just into the effectiveness of the vaccine but also into the broader context of animal control and public health management.
In a related development, the Shangla police have taken action against juvenile motorcyclists. A large-scale operation, directed by DPO Shangla, Shah Hassan, resulted in the arrest of several underage riders. They were released on the condition that their parents sign affidavits, pledging to prevent their children from riding motorcycles on main roads.
This crackdown, supervised by SDPO Alpuri, Ehsanullah, and the SHO's of Alpuri and Karora Police Stations, aimed to ensure road safety and prevent accidents caused by unlicensed and underage riders.
The events in Shangla serve as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of public health, animal control, and road safety. They prompt us to ask: Are we doing enough to protect our communities? And what steps can we take to prevent such tragedies in the future?
Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2025.
