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BENGALURU: A 31-year-old woman died due to Rabies at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday. A resident of Cox Town in east Bengaluru, she was bitten by a stray dog four months ago but was brought to the hospital only on February 12.

While doctors at Vikram Hospital confirmed the cause of her death, STOI could not immediately ascertain why she was brought to the hospital after so many months.

Doctors said her reports came positive from the Nimhans virology lab on Friday and that she succumbed around 10.30am on Saturday, adding that BBMP authorities were informed immediately.

“She was rushed to the hospital at around 3.30am on Wednesday with symptoms of breathlessness and disorientation. The family said she had suffered from psychiatric illness. But we noticed excess salivation. She refused to drink fluids and was afraid of drinking water, a clear sign of hydrophobia and a tell-tale sign of Rabies,” Dr Vijay Kumar Annayya Reddy, consultant, critical care medicine, said.

Doctors said her case was a bit misleading in the beginning, as she suffered from depression. They said she felt uncomfortable when the fan was switched on, which is aerophobia, another symptom of Rabies.

Although MRI and cerebrospinal fluid tests are the most confirmatory tests to be done in suspected Rabies cases, in this case, doctors could not do them as the patient was not in a condition to support this.

She suffered a cardiac attack after her admission and on resuscitation her condition only worsened.

While the family recalled that she had a dog bite four months ago when she brought home a puppy from the streets, they didn’t think it could lead to Rabies.

“They read on the internet and later understood the severity of the case. The victim’s 29-year-old younger brother was also bitten or scratched by the dog four months ago. We suggested that he be given anti-Rabies vaccination (ARV),” doctors said.

The 20 hospital staff, including housekeeping personnel, nurses and doctors who had treated or taken care of the woman have been given ARV. “While five doses of ARV have to be taken, so far two doses have been given to all the 20 members,” hospital authorities said.

Lamenting the lack of awareness among public about ARV, Dr Vijay said, “Had the patient taken ARV soon after the dog bite, she would not have died.”

Second Rabies death in BBMP limits this year

As per the data with the state health department, this was the fifth Rabies death in Bengaluru in 2020 — two involving dog bites within the BBMP limits, and three of patients who were treated in Bengaluru hospitals but were bitten by dogs elsewhere. A 40-year-old man from Hanumanth Nagar died due to Rabies Epidemic Disease hospital (isolation hospital) on Old Madras Road in mid-January, said Dr Ansar Ahmed, medical superintendent.

