Family of Five Year Old Girl Subjected to Online Harassment After Misinterpreted Medical Incident Goes Viral
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A five-year-old girl, who was falsely accused of suffering from rabies after a video of her acting strangely went viral, has been confirmed healthy by doctors at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka. The child’s family, who faced public ridicule and accusations of exploiting their daughter for “views,” is now calling for the removal of the footage from social media.
The incident began on August 17 in Kushtia when the child, who had recently lost a pet cat she was deeply attached to, began exhibiting bizarre behavior. She started making cat-like “meowing” sounds and scratching her face. Concerned, her parents took her to the Kushtia General Hospital, where a doctor, without conducting clinical tests, suggested she might have rabies and advised the parents to seek treatment in Dhaka.
While the parents were busy arranging an ambulance, hospital staff allegedly filmed the distressed child despite the mother’s protests. The footage was subsequently uploaded online and went viral. As the parents traveled to Dhaka, they were inundated with messages from strangers questioning the authenticity of the child’s illness, accusing them of staging the act for social media engagement, and subjecting the family to online harassment.
Upon arrival at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Mohakhali, specialists conducted thorough examinations, including testing for reactions to light, air, and water. Medical experts confirmed that the child did not have rabies. Neurologist Dr. A.R.M. Sakhawat Hossain diagnosed the girl with a functional disorder, likely triggered by deep-seated psychological distress over the loss of her pet and excessive exposure to cat videos on mobile devices.
Dr. Sakhawat Hossain clarified that the child’s behavior was not an act, nor an attempt to solicit sympathy, but a manifestation of her mental state. He expressed concern that the viral video has caused significant, unnecessary trauma to the family, noting that the child is currently being treated for asthma and is otherwise recovering well.
Despite the medical clearance, the parents remain deeply anxious about the social repercussions once the child returns to school. The child’s father reported that even the parents of her classmates have been inquiring about whether their children need rabies vaccinations due to contact with his daughter.
The family, who have documented all medical records to prove their child’s condition, is now pleading with the public to stop the harassment. They are demanding the removal of the viral video from all platforms, hoping their daughter can return to a normal childhood without being defined by a brief, misunderstood moment of illness.
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