Rabies-like symptoms appear in youth within 18 hours of dog bite, runs to bite others, panic grips village

Aligarh (The Uttam Hindu): A shocking case has emerged from Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, where a young man developed severe and unusual symptoms within just 18 hours of being bitten by a stray dog. The youth began behaving aggressively like a dog, creating panic among family members and villagers.

The incident took place in Utwara village under Khair tehsil. The 23-year-old youth, Ramkumar alias Ramu, was bitten on the leg by a stray dog while walking in the lane. As the wound appeared minor, he did not take it seriously and washed it with soap and water at home. According to family members, Ramu planned to visit the community health centre the next day for an anti-rabies injection. The night passed normally without any symptoms.

However, around 2 pm the following day, his condition suddenly worsened. He started screaming loudly, sticking out his tongue, making strange noises, and attempting to bite himself and others. The situation became so severe that family members had to tie him to a cot with ropes. A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.

Doctors term condition critical, refer to Delhi

Alarmed by his condition, the family rushed him to the Khair Community Health Centre. Medical officer Dr Rohit Bhati, after a preliminary examination, declared the condition critical and referred the youth to Maharshi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital in Delhi. On the way, the family took him to Khurja Medical Centre, where he received initial treatment and showed slight improvement. He returned home late at night, but preparations are underway to take him to Delhi for advanced treatment.

Stray dog still roaming, fear among villagers

The stray dog that bit Ramu is still roaming freely in the village, causing fear among residents. Villagers have urged the administration to catch stray dogs and conduct a vaccination drive. Ramu’s father, Vijay Pal Singh, said his son was completely normal while eating food, but his behaviour changed suddenly. The family is financially weak, and Ramu works as a daily wage labourer.

Doctors warn delay can be fatal

Doctors said the youth showed early signs of rabies. While rabies symptoms usually appear after 10–14 days, in some cases if the animal is already infected or aggressive symptoms can emerge within 24 hours. Medical experts have advised that in case of a bite by a dog, cat, or monkey, the wound should be washed immediately with soap and water, and an anti-rabies injection must be taken within 24 hours. This facility is available free of cost round the clock at Khair CHC, which handles 30–40 such cases daily. Experts stressed that even minor negligence in such cases can prove fatal.