16-year-old girl hospitalized in Beersheba with suspected rabies

Health Ministry says girl recently got an unvaccinated dog, urges anyone who was in contact with the canine to reach out to local ministry branch

A 16-year-old girl was hospitalized Monday in southern Israel over concerns she contracted rabies from her dog.

She recently got the puppy, which had not been vaccinated against rabies.

The Health Ministry called on anyone who came in contact with the dog since March 18 to contact their local ministry branch to determine if they need to be vaccinated.

It said the girl traveled around the country with the dog, visiting Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah. The puppy is brown with white fur on the lower neck area, stomach and legs.

The girl, hospitalized at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, was in good condition, according to the Kan public broadcaster.

Rabies is virtually 100 percent fatal in humans, according to the World Health Organization.