New Delhi, April 24 -- Rabies is one of the most terrifying diseases on the planet - incurable once symptoms appear and almost always fatal. Despite this, misconceptions surrounding rabies continue to circulate in our communities, often leading to preventable tragedies. A particularly dangerous myth that I have encountered far too often as a veterinarian is the belief that a dog bite is harmless if the dog is vaccinated. People confidently say, "The dog was vaccinated, so I didn't go for treatment," or, "It was just a scratch, and it's a pet dog." These assumptions can be deadly.

While vaccination is the most powerful tool we have in the fight against rabies, it is not an absolute shield. Under real-world conditions, a vaccinated dog may...