Dog Lover Dies of Rabies Two Years After Being Bitten by a Stray Dog in Chennai

In a shocking incident from Tamil Nadu, an 18-year-old dog lover has died of rabies two years after being bitten by a stray dog. The young man, who loved spending time with dogs and often fed stray animals on the streets, did not take the bite seriously at the time.

The victim, J. Diva from Mosur village, Balaji Nagar, was the only son of daily-wage laborers J. Jambulingam and Baby. He had completed his 12th grade from Mosur Government School. Two days prior to his death, he developed a high fever, prompting his family to rush him to Arakkonam Government Hospital.

Doctors conducted initial tests and suspected rabies. He was immediately admitted to the ICU, and despite the efforts of a team of specialists, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he passed away at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai.

According to Arakkonam town police, Diva had a history of being bitten by a stray dog nearly two years ago. Health authorities explained that the incubation period of the rabies virus—the time between infection and the appearance of symptoms—can vary widely, from days to several years, depending on the bite location and the amount of virus transmitted.

Public health experts emphasized the importance of proper vaccination, noting that symptoms may appear even years after the initial bite. Dr. K. Kolandaswamy, former Director of Public Health, said that scientifically, two scenarios could explain this case: either the boy was bitten again by a dog, or the virus remained dormant in the healed wound and reactivated due to a new injury in the same area.

Authorities also highlighted that Diva was well known for his love of stray dogs and often spent time caring for them. However, he had never reported the bite or sought preventive vaccination, underscoring the critical need for awareness about rabies and post-exposure treatment.