Rabies Death in Madhya Pradesh: 6-Year-Old Boy Dies of Rabies in Datia Despite Receiving Multiple Doses of Anti-Rabies Vaccine

Bhopal, February 10: A six-year-old boy has died from rabies in the Datia district of Madhya Pradesh, despite having received multiple doses of the anti-rabies vaccine. The child, identified as Hans, passed away, just few days before he was scheduled to receive his final dose of the treatment protocol on February 10.

The tragedy began on January 13, when Hans was bitten on the shoulder by a stray dog near his home in the Sapa Pahad area. His family immediately sought medical attention at the Datia District Hospital, where he was started on a standard four-dose anti-rabies vaccination schedule. He successfully received three doses, but his health took a sharp turn for the worse on February 6, when he began exhibiting symptoms of hydrophobia and abnormal behaviour. Rabies Death in Pune: 33-Year-Old Man Dies Nearly 3 Months After Stray Dog Bite Despite Vaccination.

Rabies Death in Madhya Pradesh's Datia

As the child’s condition deteriorated, doctors at the Datia District Hospital identified clear symptoms of rabies. He was subsequently referred to the Gwalior Medical College and later to a specialised facility in Jhansi. Medical professionals at these institutions informed the family that the infection had progressed to an irreversible stage. Tragically, Hans died while being transported back to Datia.

Understanding Category 3 Bites

Health experts have classified the boy's injury as a "Category 3" bite, which involves deep wounds or bites on the upper body, such as the shoulders, neck, or head. These areas are rich in nerve endings, allowing the rabies virus to travel to the brain more rapidly. Gujarat Rabies Case: Man Seen Crawling on All Fours, ‘Barking’ and Attacking Family in Banaskantha, Hospitalised (Watch Video).

In such severe cases, the anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) alone is often insufficient. Medical protocols dictate that "Rabies Immunoglobulin" (RIG), a serum that provides immediate antibodies at the wound site, must be administered alongside the vaccine to neutralise the virus before it can enter the nervous system.

Vaccine Efficacy and Public Safety

While the anti-rabies vaccine is highly effective when administered correctly, it requires time to build immunity. If the virus reaches the brain before the vaccine can trigger a full immune response, the disease is almost 100% fatal.

This case serves as a grim reminder of the public health crisis posed by stray dogs in the region. Local residents have expressed increasing anxiety over the growing number of stray animals and have called for stricter municipal intervention to prevent future tragedies.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 10, 2026 05:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).