Mon May 05 05:11:23 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Grapples with Rabies Outbreak After Seven-Year-Old Dies
**Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala –** A seven-year-old girl, Niya Faisal, died of rabies on Monday at the SAT wing of Thiruvananthapuram’s Government Medical College Hospital, highlighting a concerning rise in rabies cases across Kerala. The child was bitten by a stray dog on April 8th and, despite receiving anti-rabies vaccinations and immunoglobulin serum, succumbed to the disease. Doctors cited the severity of the injury as a contributing factor to the poor prognosis.
The incident is one of at least seven rabies-related deaths in the state over the past month, raising serious questions about the efficacy of current vaccination programs and the effectiveness of stray dog control measures. The Health Department has quarantined the child’s family and close contacts and has prohibited a public vigil. The high number of reported dog bites, with Thiruvananthapuram reporting 15,718 cases alone until April 30th, further underscores the urgency of the situation. The state reported 100,504 dog bite injuries in total during that period. The child’s death has sparked renewed debate about the need for improved rabies prevention and control strategies in Kerala.
First Piper 