A 17-year-old boy succumbed to rabies after failing to seek medical attention for a dog bite in Ramanathapuram district, highlighting growing concerns over the rising number of dog bite cases in the state.
The victim, identified as Raja Prakash, son of Ramanathan and a resident of Kuruvikaaran Street, Annanagar, worked at a local butcher shop. Officials reported that Raja was bitten by a stray dog nearly two months ago but neglected to get vaccinated or visit a hospital.
Within days, he began exhibiting unusual symptoms. His parents admitted him to Ramanathapuram Government Hospital, where doctors diagnosed rabies and referred him to Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital for advanced treatment. Despite medical intervention, Raja’s condition worsened, and he passed away on Wednesday night.
Raja’s body was returned to Ramanathapuram, where over 100 people attended his funeral. As a precaution, the district health department administered rabies vaccinations to all attendees.
This incident follows another recent rabies death in Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi, 55, a construction worker from Varadalampattu village in Vellore district, died after being bitten by a stray dog on 5 September. Despite family advice, he ignored the wound. Admitted to Adukkamparai Government Hospital on 21 September 2025, he passed away on 23 September 2025.
Data from the Department of Public Health and Disease Prevention indicates a concerning trend. In 2021, over 3.19 lakh people were bitten by dogs, resulting in 19 rabies deaths. The numbers rose to 3.64 lakh bites with 28 deaths in 2022 and 4.41 lakh bites with 18 deaths in 2023. In 2025 alone, more than 3.6 lakh dog bites have been reported, with 22 deaths so far.
Health experts caution that untreated dog bites or incomplete vaccination can be fatal. Rabies symptoms typically appear within three weeks to three months and may include difficulty breathing, fear of water and light, memory loss, and sensitivity to wind.
Authorities are urging citizens to immediately seek medical care and complete post-exposure vaccination if bitten by a dog.
(With inputs from ETV Bharat)
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