Snakes have become more common in different parts of Faridpur during the monsoon, and the venomous Russell's viper is also being seen. In the past two days, three people in the district have died of venomous snakebites.
The dead are Nurjahan Begum, 55, of Hat Gobindapur village in Krishnanagar union, Sadar upazila; Waz Kuruni, 21, son of Nepur Molla of Rudrabana village in Bana union, Alfadanga upazila; and Barshan Mohanta, 11, of Bhabkhanda village in Parameshwardi union, Boalmari upazila.
Relatives said all three were taken to Faridpur's Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital after being bitten, but antivenom could not be given because there was none. No hospital or health centre in the district has had a supply of antivenom since June. Patients bitten by Russell's vipers and cobras are arriving, but they are dying almost without treatment.
How the three died
College student Md Waz Kuruni was bitten by a venomous snake while cutting jute in Alfadanga upazila early on Thursday, 17 August. Local UP member Md Babar Ali said he was first taken to the upazila health complex, but as there was no antivenom there, he was taken to Faridpur's Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital. With no antivenom there either, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died.
Earlier, at noon on Wednesday, a venomous snake bit Barshan Mohanta when his foot went into a hole in the ground at his home in Bhabkhanda village. He was taken first to the upazila health complex and then to Bangabandhu Medical College in Faridpur. He later died as there was no antivenom.
The same day, Nurjahan Begum of Hat Gobindapur village was bitten while fetching straw from beside her house. Her brother, Chunnu Molla, said that after she was taken to Faridpur's Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital, doctors said they had no medicine. She died later.
Officials hope for fresh supply
Faridpur civil surgeon Dr Siddiqur Rahman said the antivenom in their stock had run out. A requisition for antivenom has been sent to the relevant directorate on an urgent basis, and he hoped it would arrive soon. The crisis would then ease and supplies could be sent to all upazila health complexes, he said.
Faridpur deputy commissioner Md Kamrul Ahsan Talukder said Russell's vipers are common in the Faridpur region. The health ministry has been contacted about antivenom, and he hoped it would be available within a short time.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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