According to the health department data, eight of 30 rabies victims died in two years in Kerala despite receiving both anti-rabies vaccine and anti-rabies serum (ARS). Dog bites and rabies mortality have been rising alarmingly in Kerala. The number of rabies cases in Kerala has grown by more than 200% over the past eight years.

Further, the data revealed that five out of the 19 people who died in 2022 due to rabies were given both ARS and intradermal rabies vaccines (IDRV). They had suffered category 3 wounds to their face, neck, hands, and forearm and died precisely one month after being bit by the infected dogs. On the other hand, unvaccinated victims died with a gap of more time.

This has led to questions about the precise cause of death, including whether it was due to the type of wound, errors in wound care, or problems with the anti-quality, serum′s storage, or efficacy. The public health professionals stated that the rabies virus spreads relatively slowly, and the vaccination has shown to be highly effective in the majority of cases of animal bites.

A public health expert said that the purpose of ARS is to provide protection when vaccinations take time to be effective. What needs to be looked into is how ARS is being administered. Since ARS might cause allergic reactions, care must be taken while administering it.  Also, there may be a delay in the administration of ARS among victims from remote areas, who need to travel a long distance to avail the medical facility. (ETHealthWorld, Aug 29, 2022)