Dr. Ramlath, a homeopathic doctor from Mannarkkadu in the Keralan district of Palakkad, apparently avoided receiving anti-rabies therapy after being scratched by a dog, and on Monday, May 27, he passed away from rabies.
Approximately two months ago, her pet dog bit Dr. Ramlath, and the dog eventually passed away. The death of the dog raised concerns about a potential rabies infection. The 40-year-old doctor was aware of the risks but decided not to take the advice for post-exposure prevention.
She went to a private hospital in Mannarkkad for treatment after her health deteriorated. But when her condition worsened over time, she was referred to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thrissur, where she was put under observation after being treated at the district hospital.
Despite her serious condition, Dr. Ramlath insisted on returning home. On Sunday night, she and her husband left the Thrissur hospital without the permission of the hospital authorities. She passed away at her home in Kumaramputhur, near Mannarkkad, on Monday evening. Samples taken from her body confirmed rabies.
Health experts emphasized how crucial it is to get the proper vaccinations along with immediate treatment after any potential rabies exposure. Kerala has been battling with rabies over the past few years, with several deaths highlighting the presence of rabies among animals in the state. For example, rabies deaths in 2022 underscored the spread of infection among wild animals. Rights activist Prof. Kusumam Joseph emphasized the urgent need for intervention, given the high incidence of human-animal conflicts and the interaction between stray dogs and crop-raiding wild animals.
Public health activist Dr. NM Arun noted that several wild animals are known carriers of viruses, including the rabies lyssavirus. Regular encounters between wild and domestic animals in Kerala's forest areas could lower the impact of vaccination campaigns.
Last year, the Karnataka Health Department issued a directive for all government hospitals to provide anti-rabies vaccines (ARVs) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) free of charge to all animal-bite victims. The directive emphasized that no animal-bite victim should be denied treatment, regardless of their economic status. The National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) aims to eliminate dog-bite-mediated rabies by 2030.
In Dr. Ramlath's incident, her initial decision to not seek treatment following an injury from her pet dog's claws turned to death. Her health began to deteriorate significantly on Sunday, leading her to seek treatment at nearby hospitals due to feelings of unease and difficulty breathing. After being diagnosed with rabies at a government medical facility, she was referred to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thrissur. However, her insistence on leaving the hospital and returning home led to her untimely death.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
