A 24-year-old man’s sudden death at the Krishnagiri District Government Headquarters Hospital in Hosur on Thursday triggered panic over a suspected rabies case. However, health authorities have clarified that the cause of death was a pre-existing heart condition, not rabies.
The deceased, V Edwin, was a private company employee and resident of Thinnur village near Thalli. He had no known history of a dog bite, though initial records from two health centres noted his condition as “suspected rabies,” raising alarm.
Timeline of Events:
- On Wednesday afternoon, Edwin first visited Kakkadhasam Primary Health Centre (PHC) with body pain, throat pain, and fever. He was treated and sent home.
- Later that evening, he went to a private hospital in Thalli with worsening symptoms, including difficulty breathing and swallowing. His case was marked as suspected rabies, although there was no bite history. He was given three bottles of IV fluids.
- Subsequently, he visited the Thalli PHC, where he was nebulised. The doctor there erroneously recorded a history of dog bite and referred Edwin to the Hosur Government Hospital.
- Edwin was admitted at Hosur GH, where he was treated briefly but succumbed shortly afterward.
Medical Findings:
Dr G Ramesh Kumar, District Health Officer, said that based on an ECG report from the private hospital, Edwin had Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) and Pulmonary Edema—both serious heart-related conditions.
Post-mortem findings confirmed the same.
Rabies has been ruled out following an initial field-level investigation, but advanced testing (RT-PCR) will be conducted at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, to confirm the findings.
Misdiagnosis & Action:
Health authorities said the Thalli PHC doctor who falsely recorded a dog bite history is likely to face departmental action for misdiagnosis. Officials clarified that such errors can trigger unnecessary panic and mismanagement.
Precautionary Measures:
As a safety measure, 20 individuals—including police, journalists, and hospital staff who were in proximity to Edwin’s body—were administered the Anti-Rabies Vaccine on Thursday.
Collector’s Assurance:
Krishnagiri District Collector C Dinesh Kumar reassured the public that there is no rabies threat, and the death was due to cardiac complications, pending final test confirmation.
The incident has spotlighted the need for accurate medical reporting and swift communication between healthcare centres to prevent misinformation and panic.
