TAXILA: Anti rabies vaccines have been short in the province due to an increase in dog bites.

A couple of weeks ago, a six year old boy had died in the Akhlas Village due to the unavailability of the vaccines after he was bitten by a dog.

The local administration of the area launched a campaign for killing stray dogs and also fired the head of the local tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospital but the vaccines have not yet been made available in public sector healthcare facilities or the open market.

Hassanabdal THQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Tahirur Rehman said the vaccines have not been available in the hospital for the last one month.

He said according to the standard operating procedure, at least 10 of the vaccines should be available in a hospital for emergency use and that the hospital is not getting the vaccines because their supply is short due to an increase in dog bites across Punjab.

He said rabies can cause serious health issues and can also cause death and that vaccinations are the only cure.

“Once bitten by a dog, people should go to the hospital and be vaccinated within 48 hours in order to avoid complications from rabies,” said Dr Asad Ali, president of the local chapter of the Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians.

“Rabies can cause death in 10 days,” he said, adding that high fever, abnormal behaviour and aggressive mood are some of the symptoms of the virus.

He said the vaccines should be restocked in all health centres as there has been an increase in the number of dog bites.

Hassanabdal Municipal Committee Chief Officer Sajid Ali Khan said the local administration has launched a drive for killing stray dogs on the directives of the deputy commissioner after the death of the six-year-old boy in Akhlas.

Deputy District Officer Health Dr Shujat Ali Khan confirmed that the vaccines are not available in the THQ Hospital and that the provincial health authorities have been asked to send the vaccines.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2019