A woman was bitten at home by a stray dog that followed her inside. Subsequent testing confirmed the dog was positive for rabies. Multiple local authorities have responded.

Recently, a stray dog bite incident occurred in a residential community in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province. Ms. Xin, a resident, was bitten by a stray dog that followed her into her home. After testing, the dog tested positive for rabies virus.

The door wasn’t shut properly

Stray dog followed in and launched a sudden attack

According to Ms. Xin’s recollection, at the time of the incident, kids were visiting her home to play. Because the door was left partly open, a stray dog followed inside. “I wanted to drive it out, but it wouldn’t leave. Suddenly it bit my leg,” Ms. Xin described. After being injured, she immediately went to the hospital for treatment. According to the doctor’s diagnosis, her wound fell under the most severe “Grade III exposure” among the rabies exposure categories, requiring immediate management.

More worrying is that after the stray dog that bit Ms. Xin was brought under the control of the property management of the community, it died within three or four days. Follow-up test results showed that the dog carried the rabies virus and tested positive.

Property management response:

Willing to coordinate, or proceed through legal procedures

A spokesperson for Jiaozuo Xintiandi Property Management Co., Ltd. responded to the incident, saying that after the stray dog died, the property management immediately contacted relevant departments such as the urban management authority and the police station. As he explained, the dog itself was suspected to be ill, and the relevant departments handled the dog with harmless disposal measures according to regulations (burial). At the same time, the property management carried out two rounds of comprehensive disinfection in the area where the dog had been active.

The spokesperson said that in day-to-day management, patrols have been strengthened. “Security guards patrol every two hours; other staff also tour the premises, and if stray animals are found, they will be driven away immediately.” Regarding responsibility and compensation for this incident, the property management said it is willing to first negotiate with the homeowners. “If negotiations fail, we will go through legal procedures—that way it is relatively fair and just.”

Subdistrict office:

Awaiting the results of the police investigation

The incident has also drawn attention from the subdistrict office in the jurisdiction. A staff member from the Wenyuan Subdistrict Office in Jiaozuo City, Hu Qiying, said that the public security authorities’ further investigation results are needed. “If it involves other jurisdictions, we will also report to the relevant departments in the district.” She also pointed out that within the subdistrict’s jurisdiction, they will further strengthen disinfection work in public areas and do solid public education on preventing rabies and related knowledge.

Experts issue urgent reminders:

Grade III exposure must be handled promptly and properly

In this incident, Ms. Xin’s situation—penetrating skin injuries with bleeding—falls under high-risk rabies exposure (Grade III exposure).

For the general public, mastering correct emergency first-aid knowledge for rabies can save lives when unexpected incidents happen.

What is rabies exposure?

Rabies exposure refers to being bitten, scratched by a rabid, suspected rabid, or host animal that cannot be determined to have rabies; or being licked at mucous membranes or on broken skin; or direct contact of open wounds or mucous membranes with saliva or tissues that may contain the rabies virus.

In simple terms: as long as broken skin or mucous membrane comes into contact with the saliva of a suspected animal, it counts as exposure.

Exposure is divided into three grades

Based on the mode of contact and the degree of exposure, rabies exposure is divided into three grades:

Special reminder: For those confirmed to be Grade II exposure with severe immunodeficiency, or when it is Grade II exposure but the wound is on the head or face and the health status of the biting animal cannot be determined, it should be handled as Grade III exposure.

Post-exposure management: “three steps”

Step 1: Clean the wound promptly (you can do it at home first)

Once exposure occurs, immediately flush the wound by alternating soap water (or other weakly alkaline cleansers) with running water for at least 15 minutes. This step is crucial and can reduce the amount of virus in the wound to the maximum extent. After flushing, disinfect the wound with povidone-iodine or 75% medical alcohol.

Step 2: Go to a regular outpatient clinic for assessment and treatment

Go to a rabies exposure prevention and treatment clinic as soon as possible. A professional doctor will assess the exposure grade and develop a treatment plan. There are currently two rabies post-exposure vaccination programs approved by the country:

5-dose immunization program: 1 dose each on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28;

“2-1-1” immunization program: 2 doses on day 0, and 1 dose each on days 7 and 21.

Step 3: Grade III exposure requires injection of passive immunization agents

For Grade III exposure persons (and for Grade II exposure persons who need to be handled as Grade III), calculate the dosage of passive immunization agents such as immunoglobulin and serum based on the recipient’s body weight; then use the full amount at once. This can provide “immediate protection” before antibodies are produced by the vaccine.

Source: Henan Radio and Television Station, Nanchang CDC, City Scene

Edited by | Wu Zhongqiang Intern Zhou Yuejiao

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