- The fifteen boys were treated for rabies after reportedly gang raping an infected donkey
- They spent a week in hospital while the donkey was killed to prevent further people being infected
- Parents were reportedly having their children secretly vaccinated in case they had ‘approached’ the donkey
Fifteen boys and teenagers from a small rural town in Morocco have been treated for rabies after reportedly gang raping an infected donkey.
The youngsters - aged seven to 15 - were rushed to hospital after discovering the animal had the disease, according to local reports.
The youths, from a small tribal group, spent a week at the Mechraa Belksiri Hospital, while the donkey was killed to prevent further people being infected.
The families of the 15 young people are said to have reacted in “distress and horror” after being mocked throughout the small town in the north-western region of Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen.
The owner of the donkey was prevailed upon to slaughter the animal by society to prevent further people being infected, reports Al-Akhbar newspaper
Al-Akhbar reports that local authorities are searching for anyone else who may have had similar contact with the animal.
The number of infections is feared to be much higher, as some families reportedly took their children to hospitals outside the region to avoid humiliation.
Parents in the small town are also secretly having their children vaccinated in case they had approached the animal, reports claim.
Local authorities are now trying to find anyone else who has “approached” or “admired” the animal closely to limit further spread of disease.
The incident happened in Morocco’s north-western region of Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen.
Rabies is almost always fatal as soon as symptoms show, but treatment before this happens is very effective, according to health exeperts.
The disease attacks the brain and nerves and is usually caught from the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most often a dog.
It is found throughout the world, particularly in Asia, Africa and Central and South America - but very rarely in the UK in a small number of wild bats.
It is not clear whether the teens and children will face criminal liabilities. Moroccan laws consider minors from 12 to 16 years of age as having partial responsibility, due to insufficient judgment.
Where crimes and offences are concerned, their status as minors is considered to be an excuse and they can be subject either to the protection and re-education measures.
Offenders who have reached the age of majority of 16 are held fully responsible however, if they are under 18 years of age, the courts may, in a substantiated decision, replace or supplement their penalties.
- The fifteen boys were treated for rabies after reportedly gang raping an infected donkey
- They spent a week in hospital while the donkey was killed to prevent further people being infected
- Parents were reportedly having their children secretly vaccinated in case they had ‘approached’ the donkey
Fifteen boys and teenagers from a small rural town in Morocco have been treated for rabies after reportedly gang raping an infected donkey.
The youngsters - aged seven to 15 - were rushed to hospital after discovering the animal had the disease, according to local reports.
The youths, from a small tribal group, spent a week at the Mechraa Belksiri Hospital, while the donkey was killed to prevent further people being infected.
The families of the 15 young people are said to have reacted in “distress and horror” after being mocked throughout the small town in the north-western region of Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen.
The owner of the donkey was prevailed upon to slaughter the animal by society to prevent further people being infected, reports Al-Akhbar newspaper
Al-Akhbar reports that local authorities are searching for anyone else who may have had similar contact with the animal.
The number of infections is feared to be much higher, as some families reportedly took their children to hospitals outside the region to avoid humiliation.
Parents in the small town are also secretly having their children vaccinated in case they had approached the animal, reports claim.
Local authorities are now trying to find anyone else who has “approached” or “admired” the animal closely to limit further spread of disease.
The incident happened in Morocco’s north-western region of Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen.
Rabies is almost always fatal as soon as symptoms show, but treatment before this happens is very effective, according to health exeperts.
The disease attacks the brain and nerves and is usually caught from the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most often a dog.
It is found throughout the world, particularly in Asia, Africa and Central and South America - but very rarely in the UK in a small number of wild bats.
It is not clear whether the teens and children will face criminal liabilities. Moroccan laws consider minors from 12 to 16 years of age as having partial responsibility, due to insufficient judgment.
Where crimes and offences are concerned, their status as minors is considered to be an excuse and they can be subject either to the protection and re-education measures.
Offenders who have reached the age of majority of 16 are held fully responsible however, if they are under 18 years of age, the courts may, in a substantiated decision, replace or supplement their penalties.
