Daijiworld Media Network - Coimbatore
Coimbatore, Oct 15: A 15-year-old schoolboy from Karamadai municipality in Coimbatore passed away due to suspected rabies and was cremated without a postmortem to prevent the risk of infection, officials said.
The boy fell ill a week ago and was admitted to a private hospital on October 9. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Saturday but succumbed to the illness despite treatment. According to CMCH Dean Dr. M. Geethanjali, clinical symptoms including aerophobia and hydrophobia indicated suspected rabies, prompting authorities to hand over the body for immediate cremation without an autopsy due to the disease’s highly infectious nature.

Health department teams conducted screenings in the locality and administered anti-rabies vaccination to the boy’s family. Seven family members, including his parents, received doses as a precaution. Awareness campaigns were held in the neighbourhood and at the boy’s school to educate residents about rabies prevention, vaccination, and avoiding self-medication.
Sources stated that the family denied any history of an animal bite, though the boy exhibited rabies-like symptoms for several days before his death. DDHS Dr. P. Balusamy noted that while rabies is suspected, it has not been clinically confirmed, and the boy showed no external bite injuries.
Authorities continue to monitor the area to prevent further infections and ensure public safety.