Fourteen people, 11 of them from the same family, were injured by fox bites in Nandail, Mymensingh. The attack on the family happened on the morning of Thursday 21 May in Bhatipachani village of Nandail union. On the same day three more people were bitten in Uttar Banail village of Gangail union.

Local sources said a fox suddenly entered a house in Bhatipachani that morning and caused panic. When members of the household tried to chase it away, it bit 11 of them one after another. Neighbours then came forward and brought the situation under control. At about the same time three people in another village of the upazila were attacked by a fox.

Five of the injured, considered serious cases, were given rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin at the emergency department of Nandail Upazila Health Complex. They are Humayun (14), Fatema Akter (70), Fatema (50), Rashida (50) and Hosna (70). The others were treated at different places.

Medical officer Dr Enamul Haque Rochi said rabies is a very dangerous disease, so those bitten were vaccinated quickly and the others have been kept under observation.

Nandail Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Shamima Sultana told Jago News that those injured by the fox were brought to hospital quickly and treated, and that the necessary supply of rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin had been ensured. She said anyone bitten by a wild animal should seek treatment without delay.

Rabies vaccine is given at Nandail Upazila Health Complex every day except Friday, from 10am to 1pm. Doctors advised people bitten by a wild animal not to panic but to contact a hospital quickly.

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