LALMOHAN, BHOLA, Feb 6: A severe shortage of rabies vaccines has triggered growing concern and anxiety among residents of Lalmohan Upazila in Bhola.
The vaccine is currently unavailable at the Upazila Health Complex, while private pharmacies across the area also report having no stock.
The crisis comes at a time when the number of stray dogs has increased noticeably in the area. Incidents of dog and cat bites and scratches on roads, open fields and even within residential premises are being reported frequently. In the absence of rabies vaccines, fear and uncertainty have spread among the general public.
President of the Lalmohan Upazila unit of the Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Representatives Association , Md Hasan Patwari, said pharmaceutical companies have stopped supplying rabies vaccines, including 'Rabix', for the past several months.
"As a result, we are unable to supply the vaccine to pharmacies. Many patients are now bringing vaccines from Dhaka. However, if these vaccines are not transported following proper procedures, their quality may deteriorate," he warned.
Shanta Islam, a housewife, said she was scratched by a cat due to carelessness. "I went to Lalmohan hospital but did not get the vaccine there. I also searched several pharmacies in the municipality but found none. Eventually, I had to arrange the vaccine from Dhaka," she said.
Sources at the Lalmohan Upazila Health Complex said that due to the disruption in the supply of anti-rabies vaccines, it is currently not possible to provide vaccinations to new patients. Children and low-income people are suffering the most, as travelling to the district town or Dhaka for treatment is beyond their means.
Medical professionals cautioned that rabies is a 100 per cent fatal disease. If a victim does not receive the vaccine within the stipulated time after being bitten or scratched by an infected animal, their life is put at grave risk. Once symptoms appear, there is no effective treatment.
Doctors also warned that failure to take prompt action could increase the risk of rabies infection in the area. The situation may also lead to higher treatment costs, increased mental stress for patients and their families, and added pressure on the public healthcare system.
Lalmohan Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) Dr Md Abu Mahmud Talha said the government supply of rabies vaccines has been unavailable for a long time.
"We are in serious trouble because of this. Earlier, we depended on pharmaceutical companies as an alternative, but they have also stopped supplying the vaccine. This is extremely dangerous for affected individuals," he said, adding that the upazila health authorities would formally request the concerned authorities to ensure an urgent supply of rabies vaccines.
