The death of a young girl of rabies at Pathanamthitta, despite having been administered the anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin serum, reiterates the importance of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) vaccination for rabies, at least for children and vulnerable population like tribes, in a rabies-endemic State like Kerala.
Currently, only veterinarians and animal handlers, whose occupation frequently puts them at risk of animal bites, are being administered PrEP (rabies vaccination ahead of possible animal exposure or bite). However, the risk of a random animal bite turning fatal can be reduced if PrEP is adopted as a public health strategy.
