India, Rabies-related deaths raise alarm in Kerala

Since the beginning of 2025, 13 rabies-related deaths have been reported in the Indian state of Kerala. In the entire year of 2024, the official number was 22. The recent death of two children who had received rabies prophylaxis has raised questions about the treatment procedures adopted in Kerala. According to health experts, there are multiple risk factors related to rabies in the child population, including an increased propensity to be bitten on the head, face, and fingertips, increasing the risk of death due to the rich innervation and short distance from the brain. Inadequate or delayed first aid and failure to administer serum or immunoglobulin to deep wounds are other risk factors. Furthermore, inadequate wound cleansing, even in superficial cases, has the potential to diminish the efficacy of the vaccine. Vaccines must be transported, handled, and stored correctly by health workers to avoid temperature variations that may affect their efficacy. The administration of the rabies vaccine is a process that requires the expertise of skilled healthcare professionals and the cooperation of patients, given the intradermal route of administration. It is imperative to note that post-exposure prophylaxis remains a cornerstone of rabies prevention. Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, convenor of the IMA research cell, has stated that studies have shown that eight out of ten people who are bitten by a rabid dog and do not receive a vaccination will develop rabies.