Tura, April 27: Less than 24 hours after the death of an 11-year-old girl from suspected rabies in Tura—an incident that has triggered outrage over alleged denial of treatment—another suspected case has been reported in Garo Hills, raising fresh concerns over gaps in healthcare response and disease surveillance.
At Jengjal, around 30 km from Tura, doctors at the Sub-Divisional Hospital are currently treating a child who developed rabies-like symptoms nearly a month after a reported dog bite. Medical authorities have classified the case as “probable rabies,” though confirmatory tests are underway.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Paul Francis said the patient is being managed cautiously while ruling out other possible causes such as encephalitis and related neurological infections. “Rabies is often a diagnosis of exclusion, based on symptoms and a history of animal bite. Once clinical signs appear, treatment remains largely supportive,” he noted.
The development comes a day after the death of a minor in Tura, which has prompted the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills to order a magisterial inquiry. The probe will examine the circumstances surrounding the child’s death, including allegations that she was denied timely medical care at local hospitals.
Health experts warn that the near-simultaneous emergence of two suspected cases points to deeper systemic challenges. Despite rabies being entirely preventable through timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), delays in seeking treatment remain widespread, particularly in rural areas where awareness is low and dog bites often go untreated or unreported.
The situation is compounded by uneven availability of anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) across the region. Doctors report inconsistent government supply, forcing many patients to depend on private pharmacies where vaccines are often costly. At the same time, indiscriminate use of vaccines in low-risk exposure cases is believed to be placing additional strain on limited stocks.
Medical professionals have also flagged the possibility of underreporting and a broader rise in cases. Beyond domestic dogs, animals such as bats and mongooses may act as reservoirs for the virus, complicating surveillance efforts and increasing the risk of undetected transmission.
According to the State Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030, rabies remains a significant public health concern in Garo Hills, driven in part by a large and largely unregulated dog population. Estimates suggest there are over 2.56 lakh dogs in the broader region, including a substantial number of strays—underscoring the urgent need for mass vaccination and population control measures.
The plan, aligned with the ‘One Health’ approach, calls for coordinated action between human and animal health systems. However, the latest incidents have raised pressing questions about whether frontline healthcare facilities are adequately equipped—and prepared—to handle high-risk rabies cases.
Doctors caution that rabies remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases, with virtually no cure once symptoms develop. Patients in advanced stages often suffer severe neurological distress, including hydrophobia, a hallmark symptom caused by painful throat spasms. In the absence of dedicated isolation wards in many smaller hospitals, such patients are managed in low-stimulation, segregated environments to prevent worsening of symptoms.
With a fresh suspected case now under treatment and a probe underway into the recent death, attention has turned to whether clearer treatment protocols, improved vaccine supply, and stronger healthcare infrastructure can prevent further tragedies.
