Last Updated:
A 2022 expert panel confirmed the vaccines trigger proper antibody response. They are cleared for hospital use only after testing at the Central Drugs Lab in Kasauli
Out of 300 dog samples tested, 168 (56%) were positive for rabies, compared to 32% in 2016. (Representative/PTI File)
Three children in Kerala have tragically died in the past month despite receiving rabies vaccinations, sparking widespread concern across the state.
The most recent case involved seven-year-old Nia Faizal, who passed away on Monday at SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram after receiving three doses of the vaccine.
Before Nia, two other girls had succumbed to rabies after vaccination: a 12-year-old girl from Pathanamthitta district on April 9 and a five-year-old girl on April 29. All three children had sustained deep injuries on their heads and hands, which facilitated the rabies virus’s entry into their nervous systems.
Health Minister Veena George explained that when an animal bites someone on the face or hand, the virus can spread rapidly due to the presence of nerves in these areas. She emphasised the importance of thoroughly washing the wound with soap and water immediately after a bite to prevent the virus from reaching the nerves and diminishing the vaccine’s effectiveness.
In response to the deaths, the government clarified there was no fault with the vaccines themselves. Veena George assured that all vaccines used in the state undergo rigorous quality checks. An expert committee formed in 2022 confirmed that the vaccines prompt the necessary antibody response in recipients. These vaccines are only distributed to hospitals after testing at the Central Drugs Lab in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.
However, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan accused the Health Department of negligence and corruption, citing that out of 102 rabies deaths in the past five years, 20 individuals had been vaccinated. He claimed that the government’s assurances of vaccine safety were unfounded, leading to the loss of innocent lives.
In 2024, 13 individuals had died from rabies, compared to 17 confirmed deaths in 2023 and 21 in 2022. This year, 1,69,906 people have been vaccinated against rabies.
A report from The Lancet in 2023 highlighted that many deaths occurred due to deep wounds and the absence of timely and proper treatment, revealing that only 38% of people in India wash wounds with soap and water after an animal bite.
Additionally, a 2022 report indicated that the number of infected dogs in Kerala has doubled over the past five years. Out of 300 dog samples tested, 168 (56%) were positive for rabies, compared to 32% in 2016. In 2022, over 2 lakh dog bite cases were reported, with 21 resulting in death.
- Location :
Kerala, India, India
- First Published:
Source link
[ad_3]
