Woman undergoing treatment for dog bite dies; Tests on to rule out rabies

Kozhikode: Yet another person undergoing treatment after being bitten by a dog has died despite being administered the necessary vaccines.

The deceased has been identified as P Chandrika, a native of Perambra. She was 53.

She was bitten on her face by a stray dog on July 21. Besides Chandrika, the dog had bitten eight others in the same locality.

Chandrika was admitted to the Government Medical College hospital here early last week after she developed some health issues but died on Saturday midnight, sources said.

It is unclear if rabies is the reason for death. Tests are on to find out, the District Medical Officer said.

If it is indeed a case of rabies, then this would be the second such death in the state in the span of just two months.

In July, 19-year-old Sreelakshmi, hailing from Mangara in Palakkad, died due to rabies after she was bitten by a dog while going to college.

Sreelakshmi died despite being administered four rounds of vaccines.

Health Minister Veena George ordered a probe then after questions were asked about the effectiveness of vaccination for rabies infection.

Rampant stray dog menace

There is no end to the stray dog menace in Kerala. In Vaikom, 10 people were bitten by a stray dog at Chembu panchayat on Saturday.

The dog was later run over by a vehicle when the locals tried to catch it.

Those who were attacked are worried whether the stray dog had rabies. Authorities have sent the dog's carcass to the Virology Lab in Thiruvalla for testing.

On August 18, eight people were bitten by a stray dog in Thalayolaparambu near Vaikom.