A 44-year-old woman from Rajasthan's Ajmer district has died in a suspected case of rabies after she failed to take the crucial anti-rabies vaccine following a stray dog bite a month ago. The tragic incident underscores the critical importance of immediate medical intervention after animal bites.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The deceased has been identified as Miana Devi, a resident of Sandirya village. According to her relative Dilawar Singh, the incident occurred in late November when Devi went out for a walk in her village and was bitten by a street dog. Despite the serious nature of the bite, she did not receive any post-exposure prophylaxis, which includes the anti-rabies vaccine.
Devi's condition deteriorated, and she was admitted to the JLN Hospital in Ajmer. She succumbed to her illness on Thursday. The police have sent her body for a post-mortem examination to officially determine the exact cause of death.
A Life Marked by Personal Struggles
Dilawar Singh provided further context about his aunt's life. Miana Devi was married but later divorced. In 2019, she remarried his uncle, Laxman Singh, who unfortunately passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic. Following this loss, Singh stated that Devi was not mentally stable and had been residing alone in the village. This isolation may have contributed to her not seeking the necessary medical care after the dog attack.
Public Health Appeal and Critical Warning
In the wake of this preventable death, the local health department has issued a strong appeal to the public. Officials are urging people to seek immediate medical attention and complete the full course of vaccination without delay after any dog bite or scratch, particularly from stray animals.
Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms appear. However, it is also nearly 100% preventable through prompt post-exposure prophylaxis, which includes wound cleaning and a series of vaccines. The case in Ajmer serves as a stark reminder that neglecting this essential treatment can have deadly consequences.
The health department's message is clear: do not ignore or take lightly any bite from a potentially rabid animal. Immediate action is the only way to prevent the onset of this fatal disease.
