Bitten by stray dog eight months ago, refused to take anti-rabies vaccination; 52-year-old man dies of rabies

KOLLAM: A man, who had refused to take anti-rabies vaccination following a stray dog bite, died of rabies eight months after the dog bite. The deceased has been identified as N Bijukumar (52), a native of Perumkulam in Kottarakkara.

About eight months ago, several people were bitten by a stray dog at Radio Junction. While the others took anti-rabies vaccinations, Bijukumar refused. Later, when health workers visited his home and insisted, he took only one dose of the four-dose vaccination schedule.

Yesterday afternoon, he developed a severe fever and shivering and was admitted to Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital. Soon after receiving an injection, he demanded water, showed erratic behaviour, and even attempted to bite those around him. Staff and ambulance workers restrained him before shifting him to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, but he died en route.

His body will be handed over to relatives after the postmortem today. Bijukumar, a daily wage worker, was unmarried.