300 dog bite cases daily, hospitals short of vaccine

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 21

Despite an average of over 300 cases of dog bites a day in the last two years, none of government hospitals in the state has anti-rabies serum (ARS) for a grade-3 dog bite.

A grade-3 dog bite is a single or multiple transdermal bite with contamination of mucous membrane with salvia. Following the non-availability of ARS (immunoglobulin) at government hospitals, poor patients have to pay a hefty price from their own pocket for this drug. Health experts said a single dose of immunoglobulin costs around Rs 20,000-25,000 for adults and Rs 7,000-10,000 for children based on the weight of patient.

Epidemiologists said of the total dog bite cases, more than 50 per cent were of grade-3 and needed immunoglobulin to be administered. Mostly people from poor background were the ones who happened to be the victims in most of the cases. In 2018, Ludhiana was the worst-hit district in the state with 15,324 cases, followed by Patiala (9,936), Jalandhar (9,839), Hoshiarpur (9,260) and Sangrur (6,593).

The state Health Department revealed that more than 50,000 cases of dog bite had already been reported in the state so far in 2019.

The major government hospitals in the state, including Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, Government Hospital, Amritsar, and Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, don’t have the said drug at their disposal.

Sarabjit Singh, who was bitten by a dog in Sangrur last week said he was asked by the staff at Rajindra Hospital to bring immunoglobulin serum from a private shop. He had to spend around Rs 15,000 to get a single dose of the serum.

“Despite increasing cases of dog bites, the government is not taking cognisance of non-availability of this life-saving drug. The drug is expensive and victims in most of the cases are poor who can’t purchase expensive medicines,” he said. The drug is not easily available at chemist shops. Usually chemist provides the vaccine only on patient’s demand.

Dr Preeti Thawre, state programme officer, National Rabies Control programme, said the government had already initiated the process to provide anti-rabies serum at government hospitals for the first time. “The government has already started the process to provide the serum at government hospitals. The entire process will take its time, but we are hopeful that it will be completed within the next 3-4 months,” she added.

Canine terror

• None of government hospitals in the state has anti-rabies serum (ARS) for a grade-3 dog bite.
• A grade-3 dog bite is a single or multiple transdermal bite with contamination of mucous membrane with salvia.
• Following the non-availability of ARS (immunoglobulin) at government hospitals, poor patients have to pay a hefty price from their own pocket for this drug.