Kathmandu, July 31 -- As many as three people died from rabies infection, and hundreds others from two remote villages-Chotesh and Bunpung in ward 6 of Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality of Dhading district-are feared to have come in close contact with infected dogs.

Officials fear a massive outbreak of the deadly virus in the affected villages, as the three deaths occurred within a month and a half.

"We have already launched a mass vaccination campaign against the rabies virus in the affected villages," said Dr Chandra Bhal Jha, director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. "Nearly 300 people from the affected villages have been administered the anti-rabies vaccine, and vaccination is ongoing."

Rabies is a deadly viral di...