Chennai, July 6: The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public Health issued an urgent advisory on rabies prevention following the deaths of two boys in neighbouring Kerala. Both victims had received anti-rabies vaccination after stray dog bites but succumbed to the fatal disease.
Director Dr. TS Selvavinayagam warned all healthcare workers that rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, stressing that Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) only saves lives if administered "correctly and promptly." The Kerala deaths are suspected to stem from critical lapses: delays in starting PEP, failure to administer Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) for severe wounds, improper wound cleaning, missed vaccine doses, or storage issues.
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The advisory mandates strict adherence to dog bite categorization:
Cat I (Touching/Intact Skin): No PEP needed.Dr. Selvavinayagam emphasized that RIG is vital for deep/bleeding wounds to neutralize the virus before vaccines take effect, especially for facial/head bites where delays prove deadly. He reiterated that immediate, thorough wound washing with soap and water for 15 minutes is the crucial first step. Children face higher risk due to weaker immune responses and potential under-reporting of bites. All health facilities were ordered to strictly implement protocols to prevent future tragedies.
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