THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of 21 deaths due to rabies in the state and allegations of negligence on the part of the hospitals becoming strong, an expert committee appointed by the government will directly visit the houses of the deceased and the hospitals where they were treated to find out the shortcomings and deficiencies in the treatment. The house visit will start as soon as Onam is over.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Veena George has written a letter to the Union Health Minister requesting him to direct the central drug laboratory to check the efficacy and quality of the vaccine. Three people from Chengamanad in Ernakulam and Ottappalam in Palakkad were attacked by stray dogs yesterday.

The government has asked the expert committee to submit recommendations to completely eliminate deaths due to rabies by 2025. The expert committee will also investigate what all measures could have been taken to prevent death due to rabies. The seven-member committee chaired by Director of Health Education, Dr Thomas Mathew, will urgently convene the records regarding death and treatment. After this, the committee will visit the homes and hospitals.

The committee will be conducting a verbal autopsy through this visit. It will assess various details such as the situation in which the deceased was bitten by the dog, the time taken to rush the person to the hospital, the steps taken and treatment through the verbal autopsy.