Krishnagar, Feb. 16: Two nurses at a government hospital in Nadia were today accused of administering the anti-rabies vaccine to a three-year-old girl instead of an antibiotic injection to treat burn injuries.

When the child fell ill after the dose and had to be admitted, the authorities of Chapra block hospital showcaused the nurses - Rumi Samanta and Chaiti Adhikary. The block medical officer of health (BMOH) has ordered a probe.

BMOH Kamalesh Biswas said: "It is sheer negligence on the part of the two nurses. They have been showcaused and asked to respond within three days."

He added: "The child has been admitted to the hospital and is under observation. She is out of danger. She has 15 per cent burn injuries and the vaccine made her a little restless for some time."

Matsukhi Khatun's farm labourer father, Munna Sheikh, had brought her to the outpatient department of the hospital, where a doctor prescribed her an antibiotic injection.

Munna said: "The doctor advised me to take my daughter to the nurses in another room and get the injection administered. In the room, two nurses were administering injections to many other children. I gave them the prescription and requested them for the injection. They looked at the prescription and administered an injection."

"Ten minutes later, my daughter became restless and started crying uncontrollably. When I asked the nurses how they could make such a mistake, they rebuked me for standing in a queue where many children had come for anti-rabies vaccines," Munna added.

Hospital sources said injections were being given in only one room and incidentally, around 100 children had been brought for the vaccine. They said the nurses should have checked the prescription properly before giving the injection.

A paediatrician in Krishnagar said: "Administering a dose of anti-rabies vaccine to a child without examining his or her condition can be fatal. There can be serious side effects such as allergic reactions and broncho-spasms if there is some existing illness. The vaccine can also lead to common problems such as muscle pain, stomach cramps, headache, fever and dizziness."

Rumi, one of the accused nurses, said: "It was an unintended mistake."