Online Desk

A series of deaths linked to rabies has raised alarm in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha, where patients reportedly failed to receive anti-rabies vaccines on time at government hospitals after being bitten by dogs. In the past eight days alone, five people have died. Locals allege that due to the shortage of vaccines in public hospitals, victims were forced to buy vaccines privately, yet many could not be saved.

The latest victim, Sultana Begum of Dhubni Bazar area, died on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier, on Monday night, Afruza Begum of Bajra Kanchibari village also died after suffering from rabies symptoms. She had been bitten by a dog on April 22 and was first taken to Gaibandha Shodor Hospital, where no vaccine was available. Later, even Rangpur Medical College Hospital could not provide the vaccine, forcing the family to purchase it from outside.

Afruza Begum’s son, Monarul Islam, said that despite receiving the vaccine, his mother later developed severe rabies symptoms, including fear of water and air, convulsions, fever, and behavioral changes. She eventually died 18 days after the attack.

Sixteen People Bitten on the Same Day

According to locals, on the morning of April 22, a dog first attacked a woman near Bishnumoyi Government Primary School and later bit 15 more people. Residents eventually beat the dog to death.

Among the deceased are Nandarani, Ful Mia, and Ratneshwar. At least nine more victims are currently undergoing treatment.

Local union parishad member Tajrul Islam said many victims were bitten on the face and upper body, increasing the risk and severity of infection.

No Vaccine for One and a Half Years

Sundarganj Upazila Health Officer Dr. Dibakar Basak said the upazila health complex has been without anti-rabies vaccines for the past one and a half years. Despite repeated requests, no new supply was provided. As a result, patients have been advised to purchase vaccines privately.

Gaibandha Civil Surgeon Dr. Rafiquzzaman also acknowledged that the shortage prevented government hospitals from providing proper treatment. He said rabies is almost entirely preventable if vaccines are administered on time.

Shortage Reported in Other Districts

The crisis is not limited to Gaibandha. Similar shortages of anti-rabies vaccines have been reported in Khulna, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Barishal, and Brahmanbaria, among other districts. In many places, patients are being forced to buy vaccines from private sources.

Health sector insiders say the shortage resulted from delays in long-term health programs and complications in procuring new vaccine supplies. The disruption has also affected prevention programs for diseases such as measles and rabies.

Experts Express Concern

Former Director of Disease Control at the Directorate General of Health Services, Professor Dr. Benazir Ahmed, said Bangladesh had once made significant progress in controlling rabies. However, he warned that the country’s achievements are now at risk due to stagnation in prevention activities. According to him, several hundred thousand people in Bangladesh are bitten by dogs or other animals every year.

Dr. Enamul Haque of the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital said rabies deaths are generally preventable if patients receive the full vaccine dosage according to protocol. He stressed the importance of investigating whether the victims received complete doses and whether the vaccines used were effective.

New Vaccine Supply Expected

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said approval has been given to procure 900,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines through UNICEF. The government expects the situation to improve within the next two weeks.