A disturbing incident has emerged from Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, where a 50-year-old woman allegedly attempted to attack people after developing severe rabies symptoms months following a dog bite. The case echoes a recent incident in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur, where a 17-year-old boy exhibited aggressive rabies symptoms, including barking, after an incomplete vaccination course.
The woman, a resident of Tipakheda village in the Tamia area, was bitten by a stray dog in January but did not receive proper medical treatment. Family members revealed that she was instead taken for local faith healing. Although she initially appeared to recover, her condition worsened in recent weeks.
Relatives reported distinct behavioral changes, including a fear of water and a tendency to run toward random people as if to bite them. As her condition became critical, she was taken to a government hospital in Tamia and later referred to the district hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment.
This incident compounds concerns amid a surge in stray dog attacks across the state. In Satna, close to 40 people were bitten by a stray dog within a three-hour span on Wednesday evening. The attacks began near Gehranala and spread to Maheshwari Sweets, Khermai Road, Khova Mandi, and Hospital Square, before reaching the railway station area, according to sources. Eyewitnesses reported that the dog suddenly turned aggressive and began attacking passersby.
Overall, over 60 people were injured in stray dog attacks across different parts of Madhya Pradesh within hours. Health officials emphasize the importance of prompt and complete rabies vaccination after animal bites, as rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear.
