Kerala girl dies of rabies despite vaccine, third child death in a month

India Today

05-05-2025

A seven-year-old Kerala girl succumbed to rabies infection, despite having received anti-rabies vaccinations, raising deep concerns about the growing problem of stray dog attacks. Niya Faisal, a native of Pathanapuram in Kollam district, died while undergoing treatment at the SAT (Specialist Anaesthesia Treatment) wing of the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram. This marks the third death of a child reported in the state within the last month due to rabies.advertisementDoctors at the SAT hospital explained that the bites Niya sustained were deep and in areas where nerves are dense. 'This child was bitten in an area where there are large nerves. So if it enters nerves, it will affect the brain before the vaccine starts showing its effect. Rabies is a virus that enters the brain and spinal cord through nerves. If children get a bite in the neck, face, or hand, these are areas where the density of nerves is high. So, the possibility of the bite reaching the nerves directly is high,' the doctors said.
Niya was attacked by a stray dog on April 8 when she was playing outside her home. She was rushed to the local hospital, where she received three doses of the anti-rabies vaccine over the next few weeks. However, she later developed a fever and was confirmed to have contracted rabies. She was subsequently transferred to the SAT hospital in Thiruvananthapuram for further treatment.advertisementLocal Self Government Minister MB Rajesh addressed the rising concerns over stray dog attacks, stating that the solution lies in amending the Central Government's Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules. 'What is allowed to do now is catch these stray dogs, and we have to arrange special operation theatres in ABC centres. These operation theatres must have air conditioning, refrigeration, and all modern facilities. Only a doctor with seven years of experience can conduct surgery. We have to take care of the dog for a week and then release it back in the place from where it was caught. This is the rule. Is it easy to sterilise lakhs of stray dogs following these? If this rule is violated, then it becomes a crime,' Rajesh said.He further emphasised that there is no issue of funding for the ABC centres, as guidelines have been issued to local self-government bodies to allocate funds for these centres. However, he pointed out the challenges faced in establishing ABC centres due to public opposition. 'After overcoming great opposition from people, we have established 30 ABC Centres,' the Minister added.
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