2-year-old girl in Malaysia placed in induced coma after being attacked by 5 dogs

A two-year-old girl was left critically injured and placed into induced coma after she was attacked by a pack of five stray dogs outside her grandmother's house in Batu Pahat, Johor, on Saturday (Sep 5).

Nur Haira Wafiqah Mohammad Hamizi suffered severe injuries to her head, face and other parts of her body following the attack at about 7am, reported Malaysian news outlet the New Straits Times.

Her grandmother, Darlinda Darlis, 56, said the toddler had been left in her care while her parents travelled to Johor Baru for work.

Darlinda said Haira was lying beside her older brother and sister and drinking milk while she prepared to take a bath when the incident occurred. 

"After my bath, I looked for Haira and saw that the front door was open. I went outside and was shocked to see five dogs biting her," she said, adding that her son rushed outside to rescue the bloodied child after she cried for help.

Darlinda said that she and her son immediately took the injured child to a local hospital where the girl was treated and placed in an induced coma.

"I cannot describe how she looked at the time. Her eyes were open, but she could not speak," said Darlinda.  

"I cried throughout the journey because I could not bear seeing her in that condition."

Darlinda added that Haira was subsequently transferred to another hospital in Johor Baru because of the severity of her injuries. 

Haira's mother, Nur Wahyuni Harun, 36, said the incident had also left her 12-year-old son traumatised after he witnessed the attack, reported The Star. 

"He has been crying at night because when he closes his eyes, he can picture the incident," said the mother of three. 

According to Darlinda, the dogs had been abandoned by hunters who used them to hunt wild boar in a nearby oil palm plantation, reported New Straits Times. 

"They use these dogs for hunting and leave them here after they are done. We have been worried about the stray dogs for a long time because their numbers keep increasing," she said.

Authorities to step up search for stray dogs 

Following the incident, local authorities has also launched a week-long operation to track down and capture five stray dogs, reported New Straits Times. 

State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said the dogs must be captured and tested for rabies, with the operation to be intensified for at least a week.

"The hospital is also concerned about whether the dogs that attacked the child were carrying rabies," said Fared. 

"Immediate action is therefore needed to capture and examine the dogs. If they are confirmed to be rabies-free, it will give some relief to the doctors and her parents, as this concern could affect the child's recovery."

Fared added that the operation also involved the Batu Pahat district office, the local  Department of Veterinary Services and police, with various methods to be deployed to locate the dogs.

"We will not rely on a single method. Surveillance, monitoring and intelligence-gathering will be intensified, including any methods permitted by law," he said.

"Our commitment is to resolve the stray dog problem in the area and prevent a similar incident from happening to others."

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xingying.koh@asiaone.com