Thiruvananthapuram: A seven-year-old girl who was undergoing treatment at SAT Hospital after being diagnosed with rabies despite receiving the anti-rabies vaccination has died. The deceased has been identified as Niya Faisal of Jasmine Manzil, a resident of Kunnikode in Kollam. She had been on ventilator support to sustain her life. With this, the number of children who have died due to rabies infection in the state within the past month has risen to three.

The incident occurred on April 8, when the child, while playing in the yard, was bitten by a stray dog. The dog had targeted a duck in the yard, and the child rushed forward to protect it, resulting in a bite on her knee. She was immediately taken to the Vilakkudi Primary Health Centre nearby, where she received the first dose of the anti-rabies vaccine.

Subsequently, she received the second and third doses on April 11 and 15, respectively. The final dose was scheduled for May 6, but the child developed a fever before that. She also began experiencing pain at her elbow where she sustained the bite. She was then admitted to the Punalur Taluk Hospital and later shifted to SAT Hospital for specialist care.

Although the dog was chased away by local residents, it was found dead in a nearby field the following day.