Counterfeit batches of rabies vaccine circulating in India, warns Australia

Australia has issued an advisory warning that counterfeit batches of a rabies vaccine have been circulating in India since November 1, 2023.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation issued the alert about counterfeit batches of the vaccine Abhayrab on December 22. It stated that while the vaccine is not available in Australia, those who received it while in India may still be affected.

Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease that affects the central nervous system. Infected dogs are responsible for transmitting the virus in the vast majority of rabies cases among humans.

According to the World Health Organization, the disease is fatal in 100% cases once it infects the central nervous system and clinical symptoms appear.

Abhayrub is manufactured by the Human Biologicals Institute, a division of Hyderabad-based Indian Immunologicals Limited.

Indian Immunologicals Limited told Scroll that in January, it “proactively identified an issue related to a specific batch of Abhayrab (Batch # KA 24014) in the market place with a packaging that was different”.

It added that it immediately notified Indian regulators. “We are working closely with regulatory authorities and law-enforcement agencies to swiftly curb this batch specific issue, and a formal complaint has been lodged to facilitate investigation,” stated the company.

In its advisory, the Australian advisory body said that those “who have received the counterfeit vaccine may...

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