U.S. Soldier Dies From Rabies After Being Deployed In Afghanistan

Tragedy: Shumaker was bitten as he tried to stop a pair of stray dogs that had attacked the base's pets

Soldier Dies Of RABIES Eight Months After Being Bitten By Stray Dog In Afghanistan -- Daily Mail

The feds are pushing for increased awareness in the wake of a soldier's death last year after he was attacked by a rabid dog while on active duty.

Spc Kevin Shumaker was bitten on the hand by a stray while breaking up a dog fight at a remote Afghanistan base in January 2011.

But it wasn’t until eight months later - and after his Afghan deployment - that the 24-year-old began to display symptoms of rabies at Fort Drum in New York.

Read more ....

Update #1: Rabid Afghan Dog Bite Kills US Soldier -- Military.com/AFP
Update #2: N.Y. soldier died of rabies from dog bite -- UPI
Update #3: Rabid Afghan dog bite kills US soldier -- Sydney Morning Herald
Update #4: Soldier's rabies death points to vaccine's importance, CDC says -- MSNBC

My Comment: The parents of Spc. Kevin Shumaker are justifiably upset with the Army's response to their son's illness and death .... but .... many soldiers in the field love animals, and to forbid pets on bases will be a difficult order to follow.