In a shocking incident, a Class 10 student at the BC Welfare Hostel in Danavaigudem, Khammam, is suffering from paralysis in her right leg and hand after reportedly being bitten by rats 15 times over the course of eight months, between March and November this year.
The student, Lakshmi Bhavani Keerthy, was reportedly administered an anti-rabies vaccine each time she was bitten. Lakshmi’s family members have alleged that the repeated rat bites have led to her paralysis.
According to Telanganatoday.com, the student is currently receiving free treatment at Mamata General Hospital under the directions of former minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar.
Doctors treating her have stated that while Lakshmi’s condition is improving and she is recovering, she is still suffering from neurological problems.
Reports also indicate that other students residing in the hostel have complained about rat bites.
Responding to the incident, former minister and BRS MLA T Harish Rao expressed concern over the student’s condition in a social media post, accusing the Congress government of negligence towards students studying in government residential schools.
Calling the incident inhumane, he said, “The student has now been left in a dire condition, with her legs becoming weak due to the repeated administration of rabies vaccines. Such appalling conditions in welfare hostels raise serious concerns. After promoting schemes like ‘Gurukula Baatu,’ the government appears to have washed its hands of the situation.”
Criticising the Congress government in the state, he added, “Under Congress rule, children who are supposed to be learning in classrooms are ending up in hospital beds due to ill-health, which is deeply troubling.”
He demanded that the government take immediate action to prevent such incidents from recurring and shift the student to NIMS Hospital for better medical care.
Does Rabies Cause Paralysis?
According to the World Health Organisation, rabies manifests in two forms, each with distinct symptoms.
Furious rabies is characterised by hyperactivity, excitable behavior, hydrophobia (fear of water), and occasionally aerophobia (fear of drafts or fresh air). This form progresses rapidly, with death occurring within a few days due to cardio-respiratory arrest.
Paralytic rabies, which accounts for roughly 20% of human cases, follows a slower and less dramatic course. It begins with gradual muscle paralysis, typically starting at the site of the bite or scratch. Over time, a coma develops, leading to death. This form is frequently misdiagnosed, which contributes to the under-reporting of rabies cases.
