British Rabies victim dies after holiday in Goa

seventies'hippy

A British woman has died after contracting rabies on holiday in the popular Asia tourist destination, Goa.
Health officials said the woman, who is in her 30s and from Bury in Greater Manchester, was admitted to Fairfield General Hospital.

She was transferred to the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, where she died on Saturday.

The Health Protection Agency North West said hospital staff were offered rabies vaccines as a "precautionary measure".

'Low risk'

The woman was bitten by a dog in the Indian tourist spot visited by thousands of Britons each year.
Full Story Here,,,,,,,,,,,

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lyndy

This is a sad story.

My partner thought I was crazy insisting on us both having rabies vaccine injections for our Africa trip & again for our first trip to India. Cost was US200 each and the cost is a major reason many people don't bother to have the vaccination.

I'm glad I did bother as I was bitten by a dog in Vietnam and luckily, was not infected. Get the shots and at least you've got time to get the other shots required, after the initial bite. No vaccination and no chance, if the dog is infected.

Wanderer22

There are a LOT of stray dogs in Arambol. Most mind their own business and only try to mooch food but I did have a run in with a couple of very aggresive ones. Lots of snarling, bared teeth, and raised back hair... but fortunately no biting. Always wondered if they might have been rabid? I always give dogs a wide berth and never turn my back on one that's aggresive.

W22

manojb

The are injections that can be taken AFTER the dog bite. My dad was bitten by the neighbour's dog and the doctor insisted that he get them even though the dog itself had been vaccinated against rabies. Very painful injections, though. 14 of them, I think, in the abdominal area.

lyndy

Appears we're both correct manojb. Hopefully the post injections are available in all areas. I would not like to risk availability in Goa.
Check out
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabie...l/preventi.htm

Many Goans visit Bangalore for medical emergencies, I believe, so maybe your Dad was lucky! Appears the subject of the original post was not so lucky.

GoanCanuck

Earlier this year when I visited Arambol I did witness plenty of stray dogs but the most gross thing I saw was a person sitting at one of the shacks and putting his hand inside the mouth of one of the stray dogs and then eating food without even bothering to wash his hands. Yuck!

Another funny thing I observed was many European tourists carrying a dog seated on the fuel tank of their motorcycle! This has to be the most stupid thing a motorcycle rider can do. If the dog was to get distracted by a cat or some other animal while the motorcycle is moving it could lead to a loss of control for the owner of the bike causing a major mishap.

eater

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventies'hippy A British woman has died after contracting rabies on holiday in the popular Asia

Recent News Item:


New Indian rabies vaccine launched
Indo-Asian News Service


Chennai, June 6 (IANS) In a country where over 20,000 people die of rabies every year, a new vaccine launched here promises a cheap and effective solution.

The vaccine has been launched in Chennai by the Human Biological Institute (HBI), a subsidiary of the National Diary Development Board. It costs only Rs.350 ($8) per dose while the imported human origin rabies immunoglobine (the vaccine protein) costs Rs.3,000 ($68).

An adult weighing more than 40 kilos can require more than one dose of the vaccine, which has a shelf life of 25 days.

The new Indian vaccine is made from equine (horse) rabies immunoglobine, R. Ravichandran of HBI says. It contains the protein and the anti-body that has to be administered immediately after a dog bite.

In Tamil Nadu alone, nearly two million rabies vaccines are used every year.


Indo-Asian News Service

For clarifications/queries, please contact IANS NEWS DESK at
2616-5778/8546, 2617-3369 or mail us at
support@eians.com

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cyberhippie

The Apollo Hosptial in South Goa carries the injections. I remember someone from Palolem got bitten and went to the hospital no problem!!

beach

I think Goa has a medical college too...

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Dr Funkenstein

The cost of the rabies vaccine is the thing that prohibits most people - I was really lucky, the docs gave me mine but by the time they realised they should've charged me £200 it was too late! I don't think anyone in Penzance had ever had to have the shot before.

Gotta have my booster before I go this time - that's a bit more reasonable at £30.

I've got to be honest - if I thought I was going to have to pay £200 I'd not bother and just stay out of the way of dogs and monkeys.

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Digital Drifter

A minor pedantic issue which might sound a tad insensitive...

The title makes it sound that she came to Goa to die after having caught rabies somewhere else.

or maybe I'm interpeting it wrong, the title.

My first impression was; she got rabies and she travels? What has Goa got to do to with that. A perusal of the story clarified things....

alabamagoa

I get really cross at some of the tourists who visit goa for a few weeks or months feed all the street dogs and then go off on their merry way, now in monsoon, no tourists hungry dogs !!!!! You cant always blame the local people. The international animal rescue in assagao are trying their best to keep on top of the stray dog situation,but there again people need to be educated about neuturing and it would appear they do have anti-rabies vaccine for people!!!! so ive been told!!! but like anything if you've been bitten by anything you go seek attention immediately,and if your ill likewise don't leave it, it may not go away

jpvs

folks, Post dogbite anti Rabies injections should be available in any medical shop. And any galli ka doctor should be able to give you a prescription for them and adminsiter it to you. Just dont delay or procrastinate after the dogbite.

There are one time shots and there are 14 time shots depending on the budget. One name that comes to my mind was Rabipur.

I had a dog bite me once. Still a student i decided to go for the cheaper 14 shots treatment and had my stomach poked with injection needles almost every other day.

bijapuri

I doubt if the dog problem is much different from the rest of India. They are everywhere, and are best given a wide berth. Most will run away with a stern look and growl of your own! I must confess as a dog lover, and a person who dogs love, it's hard to resist making eye contact and communicating to them. In fact, it's a bit like making contact with another driver to establish who has the right of way, and I want that dog to see a human who knows the game. But I really draw the line at any physical contact whatsoever.

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Digital Drifter

That's a bit of an u'statement. :-)

Why do I get the impression that you'd make a fine lawyer.(note: that was not meant to be offensive, the lawyer thing. <grin>)