<i>Mad dogs bite 25, create panic among townspeople</i>
Around 25 pedestrians including school going students in the town were bitten by mad dogs in a month, much to the anxiety of the residents of the municipality area infested with stray dogs.
Inaction by the municipal authorities coupled with scarcity of anti-rabies vaccine, a preventive of hydrophobia caused by mad dog biting, adds to the concern of the townspeople.
"On Sunday last, I was walking towards the town at dawn to catch a Dhaka-bound coach to attend a job interview. At college intersection, a group of dogs attacked me. One of them bit my leg muscle, making me postpone the journey," said Emdadul Haque, 27, of Poolhaat village on the outskirts of the town.
“As doctors advised me to take ARV, I went to the local municipality office to collect it. But staff of the department concerned said that the stock had already been finished as many people came to collect the vaccine due to rampant biting by mad dogs. Finding no way, I collected the vaccine from market for a high rice," he said.
One and a half years ago, the municipality authorities launched a massive drive to free the town from mad and ownerless dogs and arranged killing more than 1500 stray dogs by pushing poisonous injections, much to the relief of the town dwellers, especially children.
But in absence of proper monitoring, the number of stray dogs has increased alarmingly again.
Amid frequent incidents of mad dog biting, the demand of anti-rabies vaccine has gone up but the department concerned of the municipality cannot meet it.
In the open market, the price of a proper doze of anti-rabies vaccine having five ampoules is selling at Tk 3,000 to Tk 3,200 which is too high, especially for the poor people.
Contacted, municipality Chairman Dewan Kamal Ahmed said, "I am aware of the grave situation. Fresh drive against mad and stray dogs will be launched soon."
About unavailability of anti-rabies vaccine, he said that their stock finishes shortly due to its high demand.
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