A seven-year-old girl from Vilakkudy in Kerala’s Kollam district has been diagnosed with rabies and is currently in critical condition at the SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, despite having received the anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin treatment.

Girl Contracts Rabies A Month After Dog Bite

The incident occurred on April 8, when the child, identified as Niya, was bitten on the inside of her elbow by a stray dog while playing outside her home.
According to the child's mother, Niya was first taken to a local primary health center and then to Punalur Taluk Hospital, where she was administered the anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin serum as part of the post-exposure prophylaxis, reported The Hindu.

Her final dose of the vaccine was scheduled for May 6. However, last week, Niya began experiencing persistent high fever. She was initially treated at a private hospital in Kollam but was transferred to SAT Hospital after her condition worsened. Tests there confirmed the presence of the rabies virus, as per a report on Manorama.

SAT Hospital Superintendent Dr S Bindu addressed the case, stressing that the vaccine's apparent failure should not immediately be interpreted as an issue with its efficacy, as per reports. 

Despite receiving timely post-exposure treatment, Niya's case has triggered concern among health authorities and the public, especially regarding the effectiveness of rabies prevention protocols in severe exposure cases. Officials are closely monitoring her condition as doctors continue to provide intensive care.

The incident comes just a week after a six-year-old girl died due to rabies even after receiving anti-rabies vaccine and serum in Kozhikode. The mother of the victim said that they immediately washed the wound and took the child to a family health centre. 

In 2025, Kerala has so far witnessed 12 deaths due to rabies. Last year, Kerala reported 21 rabies deaths.