7-Year-Old Bitten By Stray Dog Dies After Failing To Take Anti-Rabies Vaccine

A 7-year-old boy, who failed to take anti-rabies vaccine after being bitten by a stray dog, died Saturday in India.

The incident comes two weeks after a 5-year-old died due to the same negligence. Both the dog attacks took place in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. According to local media reports, the family of the latest victim decided to give him natural medicines rather than administering anti-rabies vaccines, The New Indian Express reported Sunday.

The child, identified by his first name Monesh, was playing with four of his friends when a stray dog attacked them. All the children were bitten by the dog. Four of the children took anti-rabies vaccines. However, Monesh's parents decided to treat him through natural medicine. Few days after the incident, the boy started behaving abnormally and was admitted to the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children. However, his health deteriorated and he died Saturday, ABP Live reported.

Doctors at the hospital said the delay in getting the anti-rabies vaccine resulted in the virus reaching the brain of the 7-year-old, which led to his death. Doctors said the child had all the symptoms of rabies, including hydrophobia, a fear of water.

"On an average, we get around ten rabies cases a year from across the State. Post exposure prophylaxis is the only way to prevent deaths," Director of Public Health Dr T.S. Selvavinayagam told The New Indian Express.

Former Director of Public Health Dr K Kolandaswamy reportedly said there is a 100 percent chance of survival from rabies if the vaccine is administered without delay. Neglecting a dog bite can be fatal for the person.

Last month in the northern city of Ludhiana, an 11-year-old boy died of rabies a few hours after he was diagnosed. According to local media reports at the time, the boy had been bitten by a dog, but he concealed the incident from his parents. Twenty days after being bitten by the canine, the child died. The child told his parents he had injured his leg while playing, while he had in fact sustained a dog bite.