Child dies after dogbite despite vaccination in Datia:Virus spreads to brain; neighbor rescues him, family on alert

A six-year-old boy died 25 days after being bitten by a stray dog, despite receiving three doses of the anti-rabies vaccine in the Datia district. Doctors suspect that deep bite wounds on the child’s head and neck allowed the virus to reach his brain rapidly, leading to his death. The incident occurred in the Sapa Pahad area of Datia. Brutal attack outside home Hans Prajapati, son of Ashok Prajapati, was playing outside his house on January 13 when a stray dog attacked him. The dog bit and clawed his head, neck, and hands. A neighbour, Seema Kushwaha, said she rushed to the spot after hearing the child’s screams. “The dog had badly mauled him. He was bleeding heavily and crying in pain. I somehow chased the dog away,” she said. The family immediately took the child to the district hospital in Datia. Vaccinated, but condition worsened before final dose Doctors administered anti-rabies vaccine shots, a tetanus injection, and rabies immunoglobulin. The second dose was given on January 16 and the third on January 20. The final dose was scheduled for February 10. However, on the evening of February 6 — four days before the last scheduled dose — Hans began showing severe symptoms of rabies. After returning from school, he complained of a severe headache and excessive salivation. His condition deteriorated rapidly. He was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the district hospital and later referred to Gwalior. From there, the family took him to Jhansi, where he died on Sunday night. Family advised immediate vaccination Hans’s grandfather, Puran Prajapati, said doctors in Gwalior and Jhansi advised all family members to get vaccinated immediately. “They told us that rabies symptoms had appeared in the child. Since we were in close contact with him, there is a risk of infection through saliva or bodily fluids. We are terrified,” he said. The family plans to undergo vaccination to ensure their safety. Allegations of medical negligence The child’s uncle, Hariram Prajapati, alleged negligence on the part of the district hospital. “All vaccines were administered after the bite on January 13. When his condition worsened on February 6, we rushed him to the hospital, but proper treatment was not given in time. He was referred too late,” he claimed. Residents blame stray dog menace Family members and local residents allege that packs of stray dogs have been active in the area and have attacked children and pets before. They claim that despite repeated complaints to the municipality, no effective action was taken. According to locals, municipal officials allegedly told them: “Kill the dogs, and we will pick them up.” Frustrated residents reportedly killed three to four stray dogs and dumped their bodies outside the locality. Administration responds Datia Collector Swapnil Ban said that vaccines were available at the hospital and were administered to the child. “The exact cause of death will be known only after the post-mortem report. A complaint had been made to the municipality, which is carrying out its duties. We will also conduct an inquiry based on High Court guidelines,” he said. He added that the municipality has been running sterilization and vaccination drives for stray dogs. Expert view: Five doses necessary for full protection Dr. P. Adhikari, Professor in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at a medical college, said immediate vaccination is crucial after any dog or suspected animal bite. “If the bite is on the head, neck, or above the shoulders, or if it is deep, rabies immunoglobulin must be administered along with the vaccine. Three doses generate antibodies, but protection remains around 95 percent. All five doses must be completed on schedule for full protection,” he explained. Similar cases reported in India Discussions among Indian medical expert groups have highlighted rare cases where deaths occurred even after complete vaccination. Kolhapur (2024): A 21-year-old woman died despite receiving all vaccine doses. Royapettah, Tamil Nadu (September 2025): An auto driver died after completing the vaccination course. Supreme Court on dog bite cases The Supreme Court has previously taken a strong stance on dog bite incidents. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice N.V. Anjaria stated that state governments would be directed to provide substantial compensation in cases where children or elderly persons are injured or die due to dog bites. The court also observed that individuals who feed stray dogs may be held accountable. “If you love these animals so much, why not take them home? Why should they roam the streets, bite people, and create fear? We cannot allow this to continue,” the bench had remarked.