Surge in dog-bite cases, no immune globulin medication in Panchkula

Panchkula, August 3
Amid a surge in the number of dog-bite cases, residents of Panchkula are left perturbed over the unavailability of immune globulin medication in the city. The medication is administered along with the anti-rabies-vaccines, after a severe dog-bite. The residents are forced to go to Chandigarh to get the vital injection.
The district Health Department has a supply of ARV, but lacks immune globulin medication. The medication provides rapid passive immune protection. It is vital for severe category three and four bites.
A resident said, “A dog-bite victim requires to be administered with the anti-rabies vaccine. But individuals with severe dog-bites need to be administered the immune globulin medication. Despite reporting of a high number of dog-bite cases in the city in past years, the state Health Department had failed to provide the second medication here.”
As per data accessed from the district Health Department, Panchkula, reported 5,699 cases in six months this year, averaging 950 dog-bite cases every month.
Ritu, a resident of Sector 11, whose husband Gagan was bitten by a stray dog in June said, “The dog bit my husband on his leg. We took him to Government Hospital in Sector 6. But while he was administered the anti-rabies vaccine, the hospital lacked any supply of immune globulin medication. We had to take him to Government Hospital in Sector 32, Chandigarh, and later to Government Hospital, Sector 16. We are scared to send our children to play in parks and in the open.”
The matter was recently discussed during a meeting chaired by Assembly speaker and Panchkula MLA Gian Chand Gupta as well. Panchkula Chief Medical Officer Mukta Kumar when contacted said the anti-rabies vaccine was available in Panchkula and being provided to all patients. “Earlier there was a supply of immune globulin medication, but we have run out of supply. We have written to the Health Department for it already,” she added. — TNS