Shock, disbelief as 6-yr-old dies of rabies

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 16

The six-year-old girl from Mani Majra, who was bitten on her lips by a ferocious dog on March 25, died of rabies late last night at the PGI (at around 12.45 pm), leaving residents in shock and disbelief, and posing a big question mark over coordination among health centres in the city.

(Edit: Rabid apathy)

Even though the immunoglobulin serum, which was to be administered immediately to the victim, was readily available at the anti-rabies clinic in Sector 19 and was given to 12 other victims, the PGI made no efforts to arrange it from there and instead forced Sadia’s family to shuttle across the city. After a lapse of 18 hours following the bite, Sadia’s uncle Nausheed arranged the vaccine from Ambala. The serum was not available at the government hospital, Mani Majra, where Sadia was taken immediately after being bitten by the dog. The PGI not only failed to check whether the cold chain of vaccine was maintained, but also did not bother to contact the Command Hospital in Chandimandir where doctors had saved the life of a rabies patient last year, sources said.

The vaccine, whose potency ends within one hour of breaking the cold chain (exposing it to normal temperature above 8°C), could not be assessed properly before being administered due to the delay.

In a press note issued late this evening, the PGI official spokesperson clarified that the protocol was followed. “The child had a class 3 bite with multiple, bleeding lacerations on the scalp, face and lips. According to the current CDC guidelines (USA), the child received appropriate wound care as well as the rabies vaccine (rabipur) and anti-rabies immunoglobulin. Lacerated bites on the face are considered the most dangerous due to their close proximity to the brain. Also these bites have a high-risk of treatment failure and progression to rabies encephalitis. Unfortunately, despite the best post-exposure prophylaxis (consistent with international recommendations), the child succumbed to rabies,” read the note.

Sadia, the victim, was rushed to the PGI paediatric emergency yesterday afternoon after her uncle noticed froth oozing out of her mouth and her voice turning hoarse. Both these symptoms, coupled with her phobia about air (looking at the fan) and water after being taken to the emergency, pointed towards rabies.

Mayor slaps Sadia’s father for misbehaviour

Sadia’s father had divorced her mother two month before her birth. He had never seen Sadia earlier. He suddenly turned up at the PGI yesterday and created a ruckus there. He reached Sadia’s residence today and started abusing her mother Imrana. He accused her of poisoning Sadia. As the situation went out of control, city Mayor Poonam Sharma intervened, but he misbehaved with her as well. The Mayor then slapped him. “Such persons need to be taught a lesson,” she said. Later, Sadia’s uncle lodged a complaint with the area police alleging that her father misbehaved with them and snatched away a gold chain also. Considering his abusive nature, Poonam Sharma said she would contact Imrana after a few days to know if she wanted to seek legal custody of her elder daughter, who is currently living with her husband in UP. “Being a lawyer, I will fight her case, if needed,” Sharma said. After Sadia’s death, Imrana has been left all alone to spend the rest of her life. The couple separated in 2009.

PGI doctors were reluctant to admit victim

• PGI doctors were reluctant to admit her on Wednesday, but did so after the Mayor’s intervention.
• Deceased’s family wants to know why she was discharged before complete vaccination.

Family says no to postmortem

The victim’s family refused to get a postmortem conducted and took the body for burial.