Teenager in Uttar Pradesh survives final-stage rabies

A 15-year-old boy named Karan from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, has made a medically extraordinary recovery from the final stages of rabies. After being bitten by a dog in December 2025, Karan failed to receive timely anti-rabies vaccinations due to misinformation at a medical facility, where an employee incorrectly suggested a tetanus shot was sufficient.

By March 2026, Karan exhibited severe symptoms including hydrophobia, excessive salivation, and behavioral changes. Despite medical consensus that survival is nearly impossible once rabies symptoms manifest, Karan underwent 22 days of treatment at a government hospital in Varanasi. This included five regular vaccines and two specialized doses.

Doctors have described the recovery as an extraordinary medical event. While the World Health Organization notes that rabies is typically fatal once symptoms appear, Karan has since returned to school and is reported to be in good health.