Banaskantha: A shocking case of suspected rabies has been reported from Narasal village in Palanpur taluka of north Gujarat, where a young man developed severe symptoms nearly three months after being bitten by a dog. The youth, originally from Sabarkantha and working as a sharecropper in Narasal, was reportedly attacked by a dog but did not receive timely vaccination.

Over the past few days, his condition deteriorated rapidly, with symptoms including aggressive behaviour, barking, and attempts to attack people, triggering panic among villagers and hospital staff.

The youth was shifted to Palanpur Civil Hospital with police assistance after villagers restrained him with ropes. However, he allegedly broke free and created chaos inside the hospital, forcing authorities to intervene again to control the situation.

Doctors at Banas Medical College said rabies is a fatal disease once symptoms appear. Superintendent Dr Sunil Joshi stressed that anyone bitten by a dog must take the anti-rabies vaccine within 24 to 48 hours, followed by the prescribed schedule. He also warned that rabies patients may show hydrophobia and that there is a risk of transmission if an infected person bites others.

Family members of the youth have been given precautionary vaccination, while the patient remains under sedation and supportive care at the hospital. DeshGujarat