Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 5: It is unfortunate that rabies continues to claim lives although affective treatment is available for the disease. A boy from Tarikambla near Bajpe fell prey to this deadly disease on Saturday February 4.

Avil Preetam Saldanha (12), son of Prema Saldanha, lost his battle with rabies. He was bitten by the domestic cat at his residence. It is also being said that a bat had scratched him when climbing a tree. Although he was never bitten by a dog, the possibility of coming into contact with dog's saliva when playing in mud cannot be ruled out, locals said.

After he became seriously ill on the evening of Friday, Avil was rushed to Father Muller Medical College Hospital here immediately. However, he breathed his last on Saturday morning without responding to treatments.

Avil was a brilliant sixth standard student of Parochial school at Bajpe. His mother, Prema, works as coolie. At the advice of the doctors, all the family members of Avil were injected with anti-rabies vaccine.

It may be recalled that in the recent past, villagers had,during the Gram Sabha, expressed apprehension about spread of rabies fast in Bajpe and nearby areas where the menace of street dogs has been acute. Reckless disposal of decomposed waste and remains of non-vegetarian food has been aggravating the problem, and the administration has failed in its duty to regulate the problem, the locals said.