Madhya Pradesh, India

A man from the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar area has been a cause of concern for residents for his erratic and bizarre behaviour. As per residents, the man named Sonu was bitten by a dog some days ago and has since been exhibiting violent behaviour towards people around him.

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Sonu, who works as a cleaner at a local vegetable market, was bitten by a stray dog about two weeks ago. After that, his behaviour has become unpredictable and residents have reported some worrying accounts they noticed with the man.

The man has been attacking people in his neighbourhood and some have even seen him eating raw flesh, as per one report in MoneyControl.

Also Read | India: 14-year-old from Ghaziabad dies of rabies month after dog bite

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According to News18, traders at the market have taken steps to address his condition, such as offering medical care and rabies shots. Despite using all methods, Sonu's behaviour remains the same, causing greater fear among locals. 

Mohammad Rashid, a vegetable seller, detailed how Sonu began eating raw flesh and acting aggressively following the dog bite. Rashid and other dealers attempted to help Sonu, but he refused additional medical attention and continued to behave strangely.

Another vegetable vendor, Narendra Thakur recounts how Sonu bit him when he was shopping for onions in the market. Thakur was treated for his bite immediately and was given a shot as a precaution.

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Also Read | 24-year-old man kills elderly woman in India’s Rajasthan, then eats her flesh

Dr Sumit Rawat of Bundelkhand Medical College explained that rabies does not spread from person to person. He stated that if Sonu had been bitten 10 to 12 days prior, rabies might have appeared in a more severe form. 

Dr Rawat also noted that Sonu's current behaviour could be attributed to a psychological illness caused by alcohol consumption. He urged the public to keep a safe distance from Sonu to avoid such accidents.

Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals. It is endemic in India and is responsible for 18,000–20,000 deaths each year, which is 36 per cent of the world's rabies deaths, as per the National Health Profile (NHP). 

About 96 per cent of rabies cases and deaths are caused by dog bites and are usually transmitted through a bite.

(With inputs from agencies)