Diyarbakır: Child intubated with rabies after cat bite; neighborhood on alert

A young child in Diyarbakır is in critical condition, intubated due to rabies contracted from a cat bite. The incident, which occurred about four months ago in the rural Büyükadı neighborhood, initially seemed minor. The 4-year-old, identified as N.K., was bitten on the lip by a stray cat.

After the initial bite, the child was taken to the hospital and later sent home. However, the child's health deteriorated significantly in recent months. When the family explained the history of the cat bite, the child was rushed to Dağkapı Children's Hospital. The child's condition worsened, leading to intubation.

Following the positive rabies test results, provincial agricultural and forestry directorate officials launched an investigation. Measures are being implemented in the neighborhood, including vaccinations for residents and efforts by municipal teams to collect stray cats and dogs. The situation has raised concerns about rabies prevention and control in the region.