Rabies

• 09 May 2025

Source: IE 

3 vaccinated children in Kerala died from rabies despite receiving proper vaccine doses has intensified concerns over timely intervention. 

• Victims sustained deep head and hand injuries, areas with dense nerve networks, allowing the virus rapid access to the nervous system. 
  • Rabies infects the central nervous system (CNS) via nerves, and bites in sensitive regions reduce the effectiveness of post-bite vaccinations. 
• First aid failure (not washing wounds with soap and water) significantly increased the risk of virus transmission. 
• About Rabies: It is a fatal zoonotic viral disease that affects the CNS of mammals, including humans.  
  • It is caused by the rabies virus and is almost 100% fatal once symptoms appear.   
    • Rabies is 100% preventable with timely medical care before symptoms appear. 
  • The virus is present in the saliva of infected animals (dogs, bats, raccoons, foxes) and enters the human body through bites, scratches, or licking of open wounds or mucous membranes. 
  • The virus reaches the brain through the nerves, triggers brain inflammation (encephalitis), leads to serious neurological issues, and results in death. 
  • WHO reports that India bears the highest rabies burden, accounting for 36% of global rabies deaths.

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