Six-year-old Thane girl dies a month after dog bite

A six-year-old girl from Maharashtra’s Thane district died over a month after being bitten by a street dog, officials said on Wednesday. The child, Nisha Shinde, received timely treatment including anti-rabies vaccination and initially appeared to recover, even celebrating her birthday on December 3, before her condition suddenly deteriorated and she succumbed despite advanced medical care.

Nisha was playing outside her home in the Diva area on November 17 when she was bitten on her shoulder and cheek by a community dog. She was first treated by a local doctor and later referred to Shastrinagar Hospital, run by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), where she underwent a standard anti-rabies protocol. “The child received all mandatory injections on schedule,” her mother Sushma Shinde said. The girl developed high-grade fever, headache, and sudden behavioral changes on December 16, leading to her transfer to a Mumbai hospital, where she could not be saved. KDMC medical health officer Dr Deepa Shukla said all prescribed medical protocols were strictly followed.

Dog bites and rabies continue to be a significant public health issue in India. Government data indicates that over 37 lakh people were bitten by dogs in 2024, with 54 suspected human rabies deaths reported. Experts, however, believe the actual number of deaths may be much higher due to underreporting.

In 2025, the Supreme Court of India addressed concerns about stray dogs and public safety. The court directed authorities to vaccinate and sterilize stray dogs, shelter aggressive or rabid animals, and regulate feeding in public areas. While the ruling aims to reduce bite incidents while protecting animal welfare, experts say its impact on lowering deaths is yet to be fully realized, as implementation varies across cities and states.

The tragic death of Nisha Shinde highlights the continuing challenges posed by stray dog management and rabies prevention in India, underscoring the need for sustained public health measures alongside legal and civic interventions.