World Rabies Day: tracing the journey from myths to modern medicine Premium

Tragic incident in Alappuzha highlights the ongoing threat of rabies, emphasizing the importance of immediate medical attention and vaccination.

In May 2024, a tragic incident in Alappuzha, Kerala, highlighted the ongoing threat of rabies in the 21st century. A nine-year-old boy died from rabies after being bitten by a stray dog. He was not vaccinated after the attack owing to the absence of major wounds. This preventable death prompted school assemblies that turned into science classes. A message was delivered to over 159,000 students across 740 schools, underscoring the critical need for immediate medical attention and vaccination after any animal bite to prevent rabies.

This incident serves as a stark reminder that, despite advancements in medical science and the availability of effective rabies vaccines, the disease remains a significant public health challenge. With a nearly 100% fatality rate once symptoms develop, rabies continues to be a formidable threat. World Rabies Day, observed on September 28 to commemorate the death of Louis Pasteur, encourages reflection on both the historical misconceptions that once shaped the approach to this deadly disease and the ongoing efforts to develop vaccines and modern strategies for rabies control. By connecting the past and present, we are reminded of the continuous need for awareness, education, and vaccination to eradicate rabies.

Weird theories

Historically, rabies has been surrounded by superstitions and misguided theories. One ancient remedy was consuming dog hair to cure rabies. Another 19th-century idea from Italian Monsignor Storti was to set up brothels for dogs—to counteract what he believed was canine sexual frustration. Such theories did nothing to stop the disease’s spread. Rabies, known for over 4,000 years, was first noted in ancient Mesopotamia and India, where early texts like the Susruta Samhita described its symptoms. However, understanding and treatment remained limited for centuries, with many misconceptions persisting. Despite this ancient awareness, progress in understanding and treating rabies stagnated for centuries. 

Advent of vaccination

The 19th century marked a turning point in the battle against rabies with the advent of germ theory, which fundamentally shifted medical science’s approach to infectious diseases. Louis Pasteur turned his attention to rabies in the 1880s. At the time, the understanding of immunology was rudimentary, and the concept of viruses as distinct infectious agents was non-existent. Pasteur himself referred to the rabies pathogen as a “virus,” but this term merely signified an unknown infectious agent smaller than bacteria. Despite the lack of a clear understanding, Pasteur hypothesised that a weakened, or “attenuated,” version of the rabies virus could stimulate the immune system to fight off a real infection.

Man, son die of rabies