Rabies Means Death, And Death Is Permanent

Rabies means death, and death is permanent.

With 25 years of medical experience, I am sharing this because irresponsible, emotional, and misleading statements about rabies circulating on social media can endanger the lives of ordinary people.

- Rabies is a 100% fatal disease. Once symptoms begin, there is no way to save the patient.

- Claims like "it is cured by soap and water" or "it is simple" have no medical basis. Washing with soap and water is only the first step, not a treatment.

- If post-exposure vaccination and Immunoglobulin are not administered timely, death is certain. I have personally seen many cases where this mistake was made, both in rural and urban areas.

- The stray dog population is a serious public health issue. Unfortunately, many people only see it as a matter of emotion and love.

- "Pet lovers" sit in air-conditioned rooms, hire expensive lawyers, and file petitions, but they do not visit slums to see bitten children or patients with bleeding wounds. This armchair activism is harmful to public health.

- Irresponsible pet owners neither tag their dogs, vaccinate them, nor take responsibility. This is a crime, not a matter of emotion.

- Children, elderly, and rural populations are at higher risk of rabies. This article is for them, not just for dogs.

- Owning a pet may be a freedom, but endangering others' lives is a crime.

- The following are necessary in public policy: • Dog sterilization • Robust vaccination programs • Strict tagging and registration • Action against irresponsible owners • Free vaccination centers in rural areas

Emotions can be hidden, but rabies symptoms and death cannot. This is not just a medical opinion but the experience of someone who has witnessed death.

Dr Ravindra L. Kulkarni, MD, DNB, FSCAI (Cardiology) Just For Hearts