A five-year-old girl died of rabies on Sunday, 21st December, nearly a month after she was bitten by a stray dog in the Diva district of Maharashtra, triggering concern among residents over dog bite safety and treatment. Nisha Shinde from Saibaba Nagar on Agasan Road passed away despite receiving four doses of the anti-rabies vaccine, her family revealed.
On 17th November night around 9:30 pm, Nisha was playing outside her home when the stray attacked her shoulder. Her family rushed her to Shastri Nagar Government Hospital in Dombivli, where she got the first vaccine dose. She later received three more doses on 20th November, 24th November and 15th December.
Her uncle, Devendra Kadam, said Nisha’s condition worsened after the fourth dose. We rushed back to Dombivli hospital, where doctors diagnosed rabies and referred her to Kasturba Hospital, but her case was deemed untreatable. “We trusted the vaccines would save her,” Kadam stated.
The family has raised questions about the initial treatment she received and has urged authorities to take strong steps to control the stray dog population in Diva to avoid similar tragedies. Local social worker Rohidas Munde said dog bite incidents have become frequent in the area, creating fear among children, senior citizens and other residents, and called for a strict and fair inquiry into the case.
Veterinary microbiologist Ashok Bhosale explained that rabies turns fatal once symptoms emerge. He stressed immediate Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) alongside vaccines, especially for severe bites from potentially rabid animals.
Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation health officer Deepa Shukla countered that records confirm Nisha received both vaccine and immunoglobulin promptly. Officials said they are waiting for medical reports to understand how the infection progressed.
Civic authorities say several measures to control stray dogs, including vaccination, sterilisation, and shelters, are being stepped up. There is now an urgent need for stricter enforcement to protect children and residents from further fatalities.
