In a heartbreaking incident, 22-year-old national-level kabaddi player Brijesh Solanki from Gujarat lost his life to rabies, a preventable but fatal disease, after being bitten by a puppy nearly a month ago. The young athlete reportedly did not take the anti-rabies vaccine, which could have saved his life.

According to family sources, Brijesh was bitten by a puppy near his home but dismissed it as a minor injury and did not seek medical treatment. In the following weeks, he began to develop symptoms such as fever, anxiety, and difficulty swallowing — classic signs of rabies in its later stages. Despite hospitalization, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he succumbed to the infection earlier this week.

Rabies is a 100% fatal viral disease once symptoms appear, but it is 100% preventable if treated in time with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) — a course of anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin injections.

The case has shocked the local sports community and sparked renewed calls for awareness on the importance of timely vaccination after any animal bite — even from a puppy. Doctors emphasize that no animal bite is too small to ignore, especially when it comes to rabies, which claims thousands of lives annually in India.

Brijesh Solanki’s death serves as a tragic reminder of the need for public health awareness, especially among youth and athletes, about animal bite protocols and immediate medical intervention.

His grieving family and teammates are now appealing to the public: “Don’t ignore even a small bite — get vaccinated. It could save your life.”