Anti-rabies vaccine, Dry fish menace
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Khalilur Rahman
The production of anti-rabies vaccine by the government remains suspended for the last three months. The vaccine is administered in injection form to a person after dog bite to prevent hydrophobia. The vaccine was so long produced in the country by the Public Health Institute and supplied to district-level government health facilities for free application among the victims of dog bites.
Director General (DG) of Health Services told The Financial Express on Sunday that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has strongly recommended a halt to production of anti-rabies vaccine because it is ineffective for the prevention of canine madness. The vaccine is imported and available in Bangladesh but the cost is too high for the common people to afford. A full course of imported vaccine costs about Taka 3500 per person which the vast section of the people cannot use after bitten by rabid dog.
The DG said that the government is planning to set up a plant for producing effective anti-rabies vaccine. He could not however tell how long it will take to start production of the vaccine. Till this is done a vast majority of people remains vulnerable to the deadly disease-Hydrophobia-which has no cure anywhere in the world. Hydrophobia can be prevented effectively by the use of modern vaccine produced abroad, even in India, if it is applied immediately after a pye-dog bites a person.
In Dhaka city flocks of stray dogs are found in every nook and corner of the residential areas. The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is entrusted with the task of elimination of pye-dog. Not long ago people used to see herds of stray dogs being collected by the Municipality and carted away in iron cages. But such activities are hardly noticeable in recent times.
When contacted DCC Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka told the Financial Express Sunday that extermination of pye-dog is an ongoing programme of the Corporation. This is done in collaboration with the Public Health Department. He also said the DCC squad is sent immediately as soon as a report about stray dogs is received at the Corporation office.
A note of caution to DCC: Every year in the Bengali month of Bhadra, stray dogs develop madness and bite people without provocation whenever any one come across those wild animals. Next month is Bhadra. So the DCC should take effort in this regard now.
This is another episode about the dry fish, popularly known as Shutki, a delicious item in almost everybody's daily menu. For a long time this popular food item has turned to be a serious health hazard for consumers. It is now known to many people because of campaign in media that the dry fish is treated with DDT. This banned substance is largely used in dry fish. The dry fish producers use DDT to treat the fishes immediately after catch before spreading those for drying up in the sunlight. The use of DDT protects dry fish from attacks of insects and fungus and keeps it intact for a longer period. The public health officials are also aware of DDT use in dry fish but the practice continues unabated. Therefore members of the public have no other way but to stop consuming such dry fish for the sake of their physical wellbeing. The harmful effect of DDT, if consumed, can cause deadly diseases. The extent of harm in human body is not, however, fully known to the medical profession as yet. The concerned authorities must act forthwith to protect public life from serious health hazards. (The writer is Consultant Editor, The Financial Express. He can be reached at e-mail: khalilbdh@gmail.com)
The production of anti-rabies vaccine by the government remains suspended for the last three months. The vaccine is administered in injection form to a person after dog bite to prevent hydrophobia. The vaccine was so long produced in the country by the Public Health Institute and supplied to district-level government health facilities for free application among the victims of dog bites.
Director General (DG) of Health Services told The Financial Express on Sunday that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has strongly recommended a halt to production of anti-rabies vaccine because it is ineffective for the prevention of canine madness. The vaccine is imported and available in Bangladesh but the cost is too high for the common people to afford. A full course of imported vaccine costs about Taka 3500 per person which the vast section of the people cannot use after bitten by rabid dog.
The DG said that the government is planning to set up a plant for producing effective anti-rabies vaccine. He could not however tell how long it will take to start production of the vaccine. Till this is done a vast majority of people remains vulnerable to the deadly disease-Hydrophobia-which has no cure anywhere in the world. Hydrophobia can be prevented effectively by the use of modern vaccine produced abroad, even in India, if it is applied immediately after a pye-dog bites a person.
In Dhaka city flocks of stray dogs are found in every nook and corner of the residential areas. The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is entrusted with the task of elimination of pye-dog. Not long ago people used to see herds of stray dogs being collected by the Municipality and carted away in iron cages. But such activities are hardly noticeable in recent times.
When contacted DCC Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka told the Financial Express Sunday that extermination of pye-dog is an ongoing programme of the Corporation. This is done in collaboration with the Public Health Department. He also said the DCC squad is sent immediately as soon as a report about stray dogs is received at the Corporation office.
A note of caution to DCC: Every year in the Bengali month of Bhadra, stray dogs develop madness and bite people without provocation whenever any one come across those wild animals. Next month is Bhadra. So the DCC should take effort in this regard now.
This is another episode about the dry fish, popularly known as Shutki, a delicious item in almost everybody's daily menu. For a long time this popular food item has turned to be a serious health hazard for consumers. It is now known to many people because of campaign in media that the dry fish is treated with DDT. This banned substance is largely used in dry fish. The dry fish producers use DDT to treat the fishes immediately after catch before spreading those for drying up in the sunlight. The use of DDT protects dry fish from attacks of insects and fungus and keeps it intact for a longer period. The public health officials are also aware of DDT use in dry fish but the practice continues unabated. Therefore members of the public have no other way but to stop consuming such dry fish for the sake of their physical wellbeing. The harmful effect of DDT, if consumed, can cause deadly diseases. The extent of harm in human body is not, however, fully known to the medical profession as yet. The concerned authorities must act forthwith to protect public life from serious health hazards. (The writer is Consultant Editor, The Financial Express. He can be reached at e-mail: khalilbdh@gmail.com)