GHAZIABAD (UP), Sept 7: A boy has died of rabies in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
The 14-year-old boy was bitten by neighbour's dog a month ago but he did not
tell his parents about it. A few days ago he began showing symptoms
of rabies.
Only when he avoided food and began behaving abnormally that the anxious
parents enquired. Shahavaz subsequently developed a fear of water and stayed indoors in a dark corner, making loud noises.
It is reported that several hospitals refused to treat him and finally he was
taken to a hospital in Bulandshahar where he died on Monday.
The class 8 student Shahavaz was a resident of Charan Singh colony under the
Vijay Nagar police station.
A complaint has been lodged against the dog owner by the boy’s grandfather,
Matloob Ahmad. According to him, a woman in their neighbourhood was sheltering
several dogs which are roaming on the street outside their home.
Twitter video, too graphic to bear
The following is a reaction to a Twitter video portraying the agony of the
victim and his father: "In a heart-wrenching event, a 14-year-old boy named
Shahavaz passed away from rabies on Monday, concealing the dog bite incident
from his parents for over a month due to fear. This is why parents should not
yell at their kids for every little thing."
Animal activists' plea to let loose the stray dogs
Meanwhile, animal activists of Delhi submitted a memorandum to Mayor Shelly
Oberoi against the alleged picking up of stray dogs by the Municipal Corporation
of Delhi (MCD) on Tuesday apparently to make the streets safe and clean for
the G20 summit leaders.
All about rabies
The Mad Dog Disease, or rabies, is the most dreaded disease in the world -
because it has the most frightening symptoms and has no cure. But it is 100%
preventable by vaccine. The infection occurs from the bite of infected animals
or their saliva. Any animal can get infected. In most cases the infection comes
from dog bites.
When you are bitten by any animal, do'nt cover the wound, wash repeatedly in
running water with soap. Most of the virus, if any, will go away because the
virus is slow to spread and, besides, water and air are its enemies.
The 1st shot must be taken in 24 hrs of the bite and the subsequent four shots
on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th says. In severe bites, anti-rabies serum is prescribed
as first dose.
Once infected - man or animal - it causes gradual inflammation of the brain
and results in death. It claimed 59,000 lives worldwide, India reporting 20,000,
every year. However, proper awareness helps.
How the virus spreads
The virus can infect any animals and they spread it to humans. There have been no confirmed instances of human-to-human transmission, says CDC. Birds are not affected. The infected animal saliva coming in
contact with the victim's mouth, eyes or nose can also spread the infection.
Inhaling gases from decaying carcasses of infected animals also can spread the
virus.
The virus cannot sustain without a host. It becomes weak on exposure to air
and water. The saliva exposed for two hours becomes harmless. It cannot survive
or spread through air.
The route of the virus after infection
It replicates in the muscle around the site so that it is not recognised by
the immune system. Incubation period is 2 to 8 weeks, but has rarely gone up
from 4 days to 11 years. This depends on the location of the bite and the concentration
of the virus in the saliva.
After replication it then attacks the nerves nearby (symptoms then begin to
appear) and thereafter the central nervous system and brain and then spreads
to salivary glands for transmission to other animals or humans. Last, when saliva
enters the lungs, death occurs due to respiratory arrest.
Death occurs in 2 to 10 days of first symptoms.
The symptoms
The symptoms begin like any viral infection. Starts with itching at the site
and impaired speech. Fluorescent Antibody Test can confirm it. But subsequent
symptoms are confirmative. There will be behavioural abnormalities, extreme
discomfort, fear and aggression.
Hydrophobia, photophobia, phonophobia, kinesiophobia (fear of sudden movement)
and aerophobia follow. It causes foaming at the mouth, brain inflammation, paralysis,
hallucinations, paranoia, delirium and coma.
The three stages of the disease progression are:
- Prodromal Stage: First three days after symptoms begin, there will be behavioural
changes. Dogs display confusion. Even aggressive dogs become calm. This is
when the virus after replication in the site muscle infects nearby nerves.
- Furious Rabies: Lasts 3-4 days. There will be running, aggression, biting
anything, foaming at mouth, mad behaviour, convulsions, hydrophobia. Virus
infects the brain and is spreading to salivary glands to facilitate transmission.
Sometimes this stage is absent.
- Paralytic Stage: Motor neurons are affected. Limbs, facial muscles, jaw
are paralysed. Dog hides in dark corners.
The only known survivor without vaccination is 15-year old Jeanna Giese of
Wisconsin. The medical procedure has come to be known as Milwaukee Protocol.
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