Five-Year-Old Girl Dies Of Rabies Despite Vaccination, Raises Alarms Over Treatment And Stray Dog Menace
Five-Year-Old Girl Dies Of Rabies Despite Vaccination, Raises Alarms Over Treatment And Stray Dog Menace
The death of a young child in Diva after a dog bite has triggered serious questions about rabies treatment protocols and renewed demands for action against stray dogs.
A tragic incident from Diva in Thane district has shaken the local community after a five-year-old girl died of rabies despite receiving multiple doses of the anti-rabies vaccine. The child, identified as Nisha Shinde, succumbed to the disease on December 21 following a month-long battle for survival.
The incident dates back to November 17, when Nisha was playing outside her home in the Diva-Agasan Road area of Bedekar Nagar in Diva East. According to her family, a stray dog bit her on the shoulder while she was sitting on a ledge. Bleeding and frightened, she was immediately rushed to Shastri Nagar Hospital, run by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC).
Hospital records show that the child was administered the anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin in the early hours of November 18. She subsequently received three more doses as part of the standard post-exposure prophylaxis schedule. Her condition remained stable for several days, and the family even celebrated her birthday on December 3, believing she was out of danger.
However, after the final dose of the vaccine was administered in mid-December, Nisha’s health reportedly deteriorated rapidly. She began showing classic symptoms associated with rabies, including extreme restlessness and self-biting. Doctors referred her to Mumbai’s Kasturba Hospital, where she was treated for four days. Despite intensive care, her condition worsened, and she passed away on December 21.
The child’s maternal uncle, Samadhan Kadam, alleged that lapses in timely and proper treatment led to her death. The family has raised serious concerns about the medical response and demanded accountability from the authorities.
Political leaders and social activists have also weighed in. Advocate Rohidas Munde of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Kalyan Rural Assembly chief, called for a thorough, fair and transparent inquiry to establish whether any negligence occurred. Munde, who has been highlighting the growing stray dog problem in Diva, said dog bite incidents have become frequent, creating fear among children and senior citizens. He demanded urgent measures to control the stray dog population.
Explaining the medical aspects, Dr Ashok Bhosale, veterinary microbiologist and professor at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, said rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. He explained that the outcome depends on whether the animal is rabid and the location of the bite, as bites closer to the brain allow the virus to spread faster. He emphasised that along with vaccines, rabies immunoglobulin must be administered immediately. He added that if symptoms begin, medical science is largely powerless.
However, KDMC health officer Dr Deepa Shukla stated that hospital records indicate the child was given both the anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin, followed by the required additional doses. She said officials are awaiting detailed reports from Kasturba Hospital to determine how the infection progressed despite adherence to protocol.
Thane Municipal Corporation health officer Dr Prasad Patil said the civic body is collecting all medical records and vaccination details and will comment only after a complete review of the case.
The incident has reignited debate over rabies awareness, post-bite treatment timelines, and the urgent need for stronger stray animal control measures to prevent similar tragedies.
