12-year-old girl dies of rabies in Pathanamthitta despite taking vaccine

PATHANAMTHITTA: A 12-year-old girl who was undergoing treatment for rabies at the Government Medical College in Kottayam, succumbed to her injuries on Monday afternoon. The victim was on ventilator support.

She has been identified as Abhirami, daughter of Hareesh of Perunad in Ranni. The dog bit her on August 13 when she went to buy milk at her neighbour’s house. The dog bit her on her face, eyes, neck and legs. She was taken to Pathanamthitta General Hospital and given three doses of vaccine. The fourth one had to be administered on September 10. Meanwhile, her health deteriorated on Friday. She was not able to eat food and drink water and became weak and was not even able to stand up. She was again brought to Pathanamthitta General Hospital and from here was shifted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital for expert treatment. Abhirami was a seventh class student of Mylapra Sacred Heart School.

Her relatives demanded an inquiry into her health despite administering three doses of vaccine. Her relatives suspected about the quality of the medicine.