A four-year-boy, who was bitten by a stray dog on June 27, died of suspected rabies in Tamil Nadu.
The young boy, whose name has not been shared, was playing near his home when he encountered a pack of stray dogs. Driven by hunger or fear, the dogs attacked, causing life-threatening injuries. Despite quick medical intervention, the boy couldn’t survive the severity of the attack.
According to Tamil Nadu Public Health records, 22 people died of rabies while 2.42 lakh dog bite cases were reported from the state till June. However in 2023, there were only 18 deaths due to rabies but the state reported 4.43 lakh dog bite cases.
This tragic event underscores the importance of controlling the stray dog population to ensure community safety, especially for children. Local authorities are being urged to implement effective animal control strategies, including spaying and neutering stray animals.
In 2023, two of the major government hospitals in the city — Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) — treated at least 5,500-6,000 persons for dog bites. The numbers have been quite consistent over the last few years, say doctors.
Rabies: All You Need To Know About It
Rabies is a viral infection impacting the central nervous system and can be transmitted from animals to humans. Knowing about rabies is key to stopping its spread and getting timely treatment.
What is rabies? Rabies comes from the rabies virus, part of the Rhabdoviridae family. It spreads mainly through the saliva of infected animals, often by bites. After entering the body, the virus travels to the brain through nerves, causing severe inflammation and damage.
Symptoms of Rabies: Early rabies symptoms are vague, including fever, headache, and weakness. As it worsens, you might experience anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, and trouble swallowing. In advanced stages, rabies can cause paralysis, convulsions, and death.
Transmission: Rabies usually spreads by bites from infected animals, but it can also pass through scratches or contact with mucous membranes. Common carriers include wild animals like bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks, and domestic pets like dogs and cats can also spread rabies if not vaccinated.
Prevention: Vaccination is the best way to stop rabies. Pet owners should keep their animals’ rabies vaccinations updated. Avoiding wild or stray animals and quickly seeking medical help after a bite are critical preventive steps. For high-risk jobs, such as veterinarians or wildlife workers, pre-exposure vaccinations might be suggested.
Treatment: Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms show up, making quick action essential. Post-exposure prophylaxis, including rabies vaccines and immune globulin, can prevent the disease if given soon after exposure.
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