- KR Bharat
- 2025-12-27
Hyderabad: An alert issued from Hyderabad has escalated into a major international public health concern after counterfeit anti-rabies vaccines were detected among travellers who visited India. The case has prompted health authorities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to initiate tracking and monitoring of affected individuals.
The fake doses were found to be falsely labelled as Abhayrab, an anti-rabies vaccine manufactured by Indian Immunologicals Limited. Investigations revealed that some travellers may have received these counterfeit vaccines during their stay in India, raising serious concerns about vaccine safety, supply chain integrity, and post-exposure rabies protection.
Following the alert, global health agencies have begun tracing travellers, reviewing vaccination records, and issuing advisories to those who may have been exposed. Indian authorities are also probing how the fake vaccines entered circulation, with a focus on identifying gaps in procurement, storage, and distribution networks.
Rabies is a fatal disease if left untreated, making timely and genuine vaccination critical. Health experts have urged travellers who received rabies shots in India to verify their vaccination details and consult medical professionals if there is any doubt about the authenticity of the doses.
The incident has highlighted the need for stronger surveillance, tighter regulation of medical supply chains, and increased awareness among travellers about receiving vaccines only from authorised healthcare providers.
