Police Officer’s Death Sparks Rabies Awareness in India

Ahmedabad, India Vanrajsinh Manjariya, a 50-year-old police inspector known for his kindness and love for dogs, died on Monday from suspected rabies, a case now drawing national attention to rabies awareness in India.. His premature death has caused grief to the police department of the city as well as his workmates.

Sudden Onset of Symptoms

Doctors said Manjariya developed a fever and weakness on Friday, which rapidly progressed to other, more severe neurological symptoms over the weekend.

• He began to show signs of hydrophobia (fear of water), and aerophobia (fear of moving air) was also a common symptom of rabies.
• His situation deteriorated fast, even with emergency care.
• He died on Monday when he was receiving treatment at a private hospital.

Doctors said that his clinical condition matched that of rabies, and they sent confirmatory samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for testing.

A Dedicated Officer and Animal Lover

Inspector Manjariya had been in the Ahmedabad Police Control Room serving the Police for almost 25 years of service, had a good reputation of being a disciplined officer, a perfect communicator, and a hard partner.

• He had a reputation for having two to three pet dogs in his house.
• His coworkers claimed that he was a man who considered his pets as his family members.
• His abrupt death has made many in the department mourn over his death.

Possible Source of Infection

According to family members, Manjariya did not suffer any serious dog bite wounds. However, he had minor scratches on his hands over the past few weeks.

• One of his pet dogs had been missing for a few days, but later returned home healthy.
• Experts believe that if the dog was infected, even a small lick or scratch could have spread the virus.
• Medical experts added that rabies is not always caused by a bite. It can also spread when infected saliva enters small wounds or cuts.

Medical Experts Issue Warnings on Rabies Awareness in India

Health specialists noted that rabies is almost always fatal when symptoms appear, emphasizing the urgent need for rabies awareness in India and timely vaccination. They urge individuals not to ignore any slight scratches or licks of the animal.

The major prevention measures are:

• Washing wounds with soap and running water as soon as possible, not least 15 minutes.
• Obtaining healthcare facility post-exposure vaccination immediately.
• Home remedies should be avoided, and they should not be left to see whether the symptoms develop.
• Having pets (dogs and cats) vaccinated against rabies on a regular basis.

A Tragic Reminder for Pet Owners

The case of Inspector Manjariya has increased rabies awareness in India, highlighting the hidden dangers of the virus and the need for public education.

• Rabies may take weeks or months before it manifests itself.
• When the neurological symptoms set in, the chances of recovery are negligible.
• The best methods to save lives are prophylactic care and education.

Final Thoughts

The death of Inspector Vanrajsinh Manjariya is a sad sadness of realization that rabies is an unsung but deadly killer. Colleagues and the community will remember his service to the Ahmedabad Police Department due to his compassion towards animals and his long service.

Medical workers continue to stress rabies awareness in India, urging timely treatment after possible contact and routine pet vaccination to prevent future tragedies.