Seven-year-old Minhaj suffered deep wounds when a dog bit him on his way home from school. On doctors’ advice, he was given two doses of the rabies vaccine. But when the time came for the third dose, his father Manjur Hossain said the vaccine could not be found at the hospital or in the market. He was later forced to bring his son from Gazipur to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Mohakhali in the capital. The child received the third dose of the vaccine on Sunday.
Victims allege that although vaccines are available in some places in the capital, the shortage of rabies vaccines outside Dhaka is severe. Buying the vaccine from pharmacies also costs several times more. In many places, people are unable to get the vaccine after an animal bite despite doctors’ advice. Unable to find it locally, some are coming to Dhaka in search of the vaccine.
Inquiries found that government hospitals in different districts of the country are facing a severe shortage of rabies vaccines. As a result, people injured by bites from dogs, cats, foxes and other animals are suffering. Unable to get the vaccine when needed, many are being forced to buy it from outside at higher prices. Because of the supply shortage, many people are also unable to complete their vaccine doses on schedule.
People concerned said vaccine supply has been lower than demand for several months. Stocks of allocated vaccines at many hospitals ran out long ago. As a result, patients are being turned away.
According to the Communicable Disease Control, or CDC, branch of the Directorate General of Health Services, about 50 people die in Bangladesh every year on average after attacks by dogs, cats and other animals. On average, 5 to 6 lakh people are attacked in the country. Dog bites account for 95 percent of rabies cases. In Bangladesh, 42 people died of rabies in 2023, 58 in 2024 and 59 in 2025. As of August this year, 35 people had died.
According to the World Health Organization, about 59 thousand people die worldwide every year from rabies. Most of them are children. Against this backdrop, today is Rabies Day. Every year, September 28 is observed as World Rabies Day or Anti-Rabies Day. The purpose of the day is to make ordinary people aware of rabies prevention. Globally, the target is to reduce human rabies deaths caused by dogs to zero by 2030.
Doctors said that when bites from dogs, cats or foxes cause deep wounds and bleeding, ARV, or anti-rabies vaccine, and RIG, or rabies immunoglobulin, are needed. But in cases of animal licking, scratching or friction, only the ARV vaccine is enough. RIG vaccine supply has long been stopped at many government hospitals at district or upazila level.
More than 1 lakh patients in 9 months
A visit to the government Infectious Diseases Hospital in Mohakhali on Sunday showed an overflowing crowd of patients. Most of them had come from remote areas of the country. Victims said they had come to Dhaka for vaccination after failing to get vaccines at government hospitals. Buying from outside costs several times more. Many said that after dog and cat bites, doctors told them to take the vaccine, but it was not available at pharmacies.
Doctors and nurses involved in vaccination at the outpatient department of the Infectious Diseases Hospital said the number of patients seeking treatment for animal bites has increased recently. On average, about 1 thousand 200 patients come to the hospital’s outpatient department every day. Hospital statistics also show rising patient pressure. In 2023, 93 thousand 380 people received outpatient treatment after being bitten by different animals. In 2024, the number rose to 1 lakh 22 thousand 263, and in 2025 to 1 lakh 46 thousand 243. As of September 17 this year, the number was about 1 lakh 7 thousand 558.
Dr Ariful Basar, consultant at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, said rabies is a fatal disease. Various animals including dogs, foxes, cats, bats, mongooses and monkeys can be infected with the rabies virus. If these animals are infected and bite, livestock as well as humans can be infected with rabies. After an animal bite, people should not panic; they should quickly wash the wound well with soap and water and come to hospital. Then, according to doctors’ advice, they should take the vaccine and RIG if necessary. Treatment should not be delayed under any circumstances, especially in cases of bites near the head, face and neck, deep wounds or bleeding.
Hospital superintendent Dr Asma Khan said about 65 percent of affected patients are victims of cat bites. These include bites from stray dogs and cats as well as pet cats. Women and children are comparatively more affected. After bites from dogs, cats, foxes, mongooses and other animals, rabies vaccine is given according to the patient’s need. Depending on the type of wound and doctors’ advice, rabies immunoglobulin, or RIG, and a tetanus vaccine may also be needed. Regular services are generally provided from 8am to 8pm.
Hospital and health directorate sources said there is demand for 6 to 7 lakh rabies vaccines across the country each year. Under the strategic plan or operational plan of the CDC branch, rabies vaccines are allocated to different hospitals through the National Rabies Elimination Program. But because there is no operational plan, there is a severe vaccine shortage at district level. The problem was especially acute in April-May. The supply situation is now largely normal. However, officials at government hospitals said there is a shortage outside Dhaka because there is no government vaccine supply.
CDC assistant director Dr Mohammad Nazmul Hasan said that in the current fiscal year, activities are under way to supply about 9 lakh doses of rabies vaccine and 3 lakh doses of rabies immunoglobulin. Based on infection numbers and usage data, the relevant institutions report their next demand. Supply is made accordingly. However, there is now no vaccine shortage.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report