At least 55 people, including women and children, were injured after being bitten by dogs at Sadar upazila in Manikganj district.
The injured are residents of Manikganj municipal area who were bitten by dogs from 8 am to 2 pm on Sunday.
Apart from this, more than 20 people were injured by cat and fox bites from last Saturday night to 2 pm Sunday.
The houses of the injured persons are in Pashchim Seota, Uttar Seota, Pashchim Dashra, Beutha and surrounding areas of the municipal area.
According to the hospital, patients, their relatives and locals, a black and white dog bit a man's leg in Paschim Seota village at around 8 am Sunday. Then the dog became reckless when local people chased it to kill it. Then the dog started biting whoever it found around. In the way, the dog bit and injured more than 40 people in a span of four to five hours, causing panic in the entire area. A black colored dog bit several people in Uttar Seota area Sunday afternoon. Apart from this, some ownerless dogs bit and injured some people in Paschim Dashra and Beutha areas.
These patients have received treatment at the 250-bed General Hospital of Manikganj.
Saiful Islam, senior staff nurse in charge of the hospital's immunization room, confirmed the information.
He said, ''A total of 55 dog bite patients, 19 cat bite patients and one fox bite patient have been vaccinated against rabies from 8 am to 2 pm today.''
Abul Kalam Azad, councilor of Manikganj Municipality, said dogs were not vaccinated in municipal areas for two years. The issue will be discussed in the municipal council and effective action will be taken.
Manikganj's 250-bed General Hospital supervisor Mohammad Bahauddin said that patients injured by dog and cat bites who came to the hospital have been vaccinated against rabies. There is no shortage of vaccines in the hospital. He advised to be aware to stay away from ownerless dogs.
