A 44-year-old woman from Sandirya village in Rajasthan died at Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Hospital in Ajmer on Thursday, nearly a month after she was bitten by a stray dog and did not receive anti-rabies vaccination.

The deceased has been identified as Miana Devi, a resident of Sandirya village. Police said the body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Dog bite incident reported a month earlier

According to family members, the incident occurred towards the end of November when Devi had gone out for a walk in the village and was bitten by a street dog. Despite the bite, she did not seek medical treatment or take the mandatory anti-rabies vaccine.

Dilawar Singh, a relative of the deceased, said Devi was living alone in the village at the time. “She was bitten by a stray dog, but no vaccination was taken. We later noticed her health deteriorating,” he said.

Health officials said that delay or failure in taking post-exposure vaccination after a dog bite can prove fatal, especially if symptoms begin to appear.

Personal circumstances and health concerns

Relatives said Miana Devi had faced several personal hardships over the years. She was initially married and later divorced. In 2019, she remarried Laxman Singh, who died during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following her husband’s death, Devi reportedly suffered from mental health issues and chose to live alone in Sandirya village, relatives added.

She was later admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Ajmer, where her condition worsened and she died during treatment.

Health department issues warning

In the wake of the incident, the health department has once again urged people to seek immediate medical care and vaccination after any dog bite, regardless of how minor the injury may appear.

Medical experts emphasised that once symptoms of Rabies appear, the disease is almost always fatal, making timely vaccination critical.

Police said further action will be taken after the post-mortem report is received.

The incident has raised concerns among residents about stray dog bites and the lack of awareness regarding post-bite medical protocols in rural areas