Two Children Die Of Rabies Due To Negligence In Taking Anti-Rabies Vaccine In Tamil Nadu

The two boys died due to negligence in taking anti-rabies vaccines. However, doctors say that rabies vaccines will be available round-the-clock in Primary Healthcare Centers.

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Chennai: A 7-year-old boy died of rabies after being bitten by a stray dog allegedly since he failed to take anti-rabies vaccines and instead decided to follow natural medicines at Agaram Mel Village near Poonamallee of Thiruvallur District. The death of the 7-year-old reportedly follows the demise of a five-year-old boy from Puzhal who died last week, as per a report in The New Indian Express. 

According to reports, the victim Monesh, a class 2 student, was playing with four of his friends fifty days ago on the street and all the five children were bitten by a stray dog. Following this, the four children were administered anti-rabies vaccines. However, Monesh's parents decided to treat him through natural medicine instead of taking an anti-rabies vaccine. Last week after more than 40 days, the boy started behaving abnormally and he was taken to Institute of CHild Health and Hospital for Children Egmore. However, Monesh's health worsened and he died on Saturday.

The anti-rabies vaccines (ARVs) will be administered at Primary Health Care centres round-the-clock and government hospitals will also give four doses of intradermal vaccine. 

However, in the case of Monesh, the delay resulted in the virus reaching the brain of the 7-year-old.

In 2019, negligence of parents led to the death of a boy due to rabies in Tirunelveli Medical College and Hospital. Initially the parents alleged that the boy died due to medical negligence on the part of the hospital. However, after examination, the dean of the hospital said that the boy died due to rabies since the parents did not give timely attention and take the kid for administering an anti-rabies vaccine.