Haifa daycare owner unknowingly brings rabid dog to work, which then attacks children

The stray, rescued near Jaljulia and initially cleared by vet, bit five children and four adults before being diagnosed with rabies; health ministry says 18 people were exposed

The Health Ministry said Saturday that 18 people in Haifa were exposed to a stray dog infected with rabies from near the central town of Jaljulia, according to an Israeli television report.

The dog was a stray rescued by an NGO near Jaljulia earlier this month and taken to a veterinary clinic in the northern city of Tamra, where it was deemed healthy.

It was later adopted by the owner of a private Haifa daycare center who brought the dog to work with her, where it proceeded to attack five children and four adults.

The dog was then taken to a clinic, where it was diagnosed with rabies after attacking the veterinarian. It collapsed and died shortly thereafter, Channel 12 news said.

The Haifa Municipality has since filed a complaint with the police and the Agriculture Ministry’s enforcement unit against the owner of the daycare, according to the report.

All those who were exposed, including the children, daycare staff and veterinarians, were referred for preventive rabies vaccination shots. The municipality also checked the daycare facility to ensure no other animals were exposed, and all were determined to be healthy.