Kerala: Despite taking rabies jab, 6-year-old girl bitten by dog dies

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Although she was discharged after receiving the vaccination, the girl developed a fever several days later and subsequently tested positive for rabies. 

She was readmitted and had been in the intensive care unit (ICU) for the past few days before succumbing to the infection, her father said.

Doctors at the hospital said the deep injuries to her scalp might have allowed the virus to reach her brain, making the vaccine less effective.

"The girl had four severe, deep wounds on her scalp. When the head and face are affected, the virus can more easily reach the brain," one of the treating doctors told the media, reports PTI.

"If the infection has already entered the nervous system, we cannot guarantee that vaccination will be 100 per cent effective," the doctor added.

According to health authorities, seven other people were also bitten by the same stray dog on the same day. None of them has developed symptoms of rabies so far.

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