A 7-year-old girl from Kollam, Kerala, contracted rabies despite vaccination. Bitten by a stray dog on April 8, she developed a fever before her final vaccine dose and was admitted to Sree Avittam Thirunal SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram two days ago. Her condition is critical.The child received the first dose of the intradermal rabies vaccine (IDRV) and anti-rabies serum at Vilakkudy Primary Health Centre, with no reported lapses in follow-up care. As her condition worsened, she was transferred from Punalur Taluk Hospital to SAT Hospital. Experts note that vaccine failure can occur due to bite location and depth, especially near the head or neck, allowing the virus to reach the central nervous system quickly. A similar case in Malappuram saw a 5-year-old girl die from rabies after a stray dog bite, with severe injuries and possible treatment delays cited as factors.Written by: Suchithra D.K., Intern
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