Ahmedabad Inspector’s Death Linked To 'Rabies' After Nail Scratch From A Vaccinated Dog Raises Questions Over Reported Cause

Ahmedabad: A police inspector serving to the city control room reportedly died after contracting rabies, with local reports attributing the infection to a nail scratch from his pet German Shepherd.

However, medical experts and existing clinical literature suggest that such a mode of transmission is highly unlikely, raising concerns that the incident may have been misreported.

How a scratch led to fatal infection

According to a report by Gujarat Samachar, the officer, identified as Inspector Vanraj Manjariya, sustained a scratch from his dog’s nail around five days ago. Believing it was minor and not a bite, he did not seek immediate medical care. The wound, however, led to the onset of rabies, a disease with no effective cure once symptoms appear.

Inspector Manjariya was admitted to KD Hospital in Ahmedabad, wherein he remained under treatment for several days. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to the infection. Hospital sources told the publication that the progression of the disease was rapid and irreversible.

Rabies is known to attack the central nervous system, often leading to erratic behaviour and neurological decline. In severe cases, patients require physical restraint to prevent self-harm. Officials also reportedly shared that during his final hours, Manjariya had to be tied to his hospital bed as the virus affected his brain.

Medical Context on Rabies Transmission

Scientific studies and WHO guidelines say that rabies transmission primarily occurs through the saliva of an infected animal, most often via bites. Transmission from a scratch is only considered possible if the animal’s nails are contaminated with saliva and the scratch breaks the skin. The risk is therefore extremely low compared with direct bites.

Furthermore, Manjariya’s dog was reported to be regularly vaccinated and remains alive. Medical literature underscores that a dog with rabies would not survive beyond a few days once symptomatic. This raises questions about whether the inspector’s infection originated from this incident at all.

Caution Against Premature Conclusion

Health officials continue to stress that all potential exposures to animal scratches or bites warrant immediate medical evaluation, including post-exposure prophylaxis. However, experts caution against drawing premature conclusions in cases such as this, where the reported transmission route appears medically improbable.

Local authorities have not yet clarified whether laboratory confirmation was undertaken to trace the precise source of the infection. An official statement from the hospital is also awaited on the same.

Published on: Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 11:01 AM IST