In Chuadanga, two people including a child have died of snakebite within a few days, yet two of the district's upazila health complexes have no antivenom. Meanwhile, district police have announced action against anyone spreading rumours about the Russell's viper.

The information came from talking to officials at the Alamdanga (Hardi) and Jibannagar upazila health complexes and senior district police officers on Sunday, 23 June.

Chuadanga has four upazilas, and Alamdanga and Jibannagar have no antivenom. When panic over the Russell's viper began across the country, Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen ordered that hospitals must not let their antivenom stocks run out under any circumstances. The lack of antivenom at two upazila health complexes at a time of widespread snake fear has drawn a negative public reaction.

However, the Damurhuda upazila health complex has enough antivenom for emergencies, and officials said Chuadanga Sadar Hospital has an adequate supply.

Jibannagar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Safaullah Newaz said no allocation had been received so far despite requests for antivenom over a long period.

Alamdanga Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Sharmin Akter told Jago News that antivenom would be brought in whenever needed. "No snakebite patient has come to us yet. If one does, we will arrange antivenom," she said.

Damurhuda Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Helena Akter Nipa said the health complex had antivenom in stock for snakebite emergencies and had requested more. "We hope to get the antivenom we need soon," she said.

Dr Wahid Mahmud Robin, acting resident medical officer (RMO) of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, said: "Our hospital has enough antivenom. There is nothing to panic about."

Acting Civil Surgeon Dr Awliar Rahman said there had been no report of anyone in the district being bitten by a Russell's viper. "If anyone is bitten by this snake, they must be brought to hospital quickly. No time should be wasted taking them to a kabiraj. A kabiraj makes wounds on the snakebite patient's body, which causes infection. We have enough antivenom in stock," he said.

Meanwhile, the snake's venom is being widely discussed on social media. Over the past few days, various claims about the snake have spread on local Facebook pages and groups in the district. From the morning of Friday, 21 June, posts appeared in some local Facebook groups saying Russell's vipers had been seen in Jibannagar upazila, at Darshana Kamarpara and in several places in Chuadanga Sadar. The posts spread quickly from personal accounts and many people panicked on seeing the pictures. Checks later showed that none of the photos were from Chuadanga.

Superintendent of Police RM Faizur Rahman said district police would take action against anyone spreading rumours about the Russell's viper on social media or by any other means. The police media cell has asked all Facebook pages and groups in Chuadanga and people active on social media not to spread rumours about snakes.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.