Don’t panic over rabies, raise awareness: Fisheries and Livestock Adviser
Fish and livestock adviser Farida Akhter has said there is no need to panic over rabies, but public awareness must be strengthened. The disease spreads through dog or cat bites and scratches, she said, stressing the importance of preventive measures instead of fear.
She made the remarks as chief guest at a seminar organised by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) this morning at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) to mark World Rabies Day 2025.
The adviser said the mass dog vaccination programme, shelters and rescue centres, the Animal Welfare Act 2019, and awareness-building activities need to be expanded further. She also called for a change in people's mindset and behaviour towards dogs, urging humane treatment of the animals.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
She noted that several symptoms appear before the final stage of rabies. "But we usually do not take cat or dog scratches seriously. We think of treatment only when a bite causes a visible wound. In such cases, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately without delay," she said.
DLS Director General Dr Md Abu Sufian chaired the event. Director (Administration) Dr Md Boyjar Rahman delivered the welcome address, while Dr Md Shahinur Alam, director of the Livestock Research Institute, presented the keynote paper. He said rabies is present in 150 countries, causing around 59,000 deaths globally each year and inflicting an economic loss of $8.6 billion.
In his speech as chair, Dr Sufian said: "To ensure human health, we must ensure the health of dogs. Research on the disease is essential at this moment. We also need to be more humane towards animals."
Health Services Director General Dr Md Abu Jafar, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Director General Dr Shakila Faruq, IEDCR Director Prof Dr Tahmina Shirin, and Dr F H Ansari, president of ACI Agri Business Division, attended as special guests.
Speakers at the panel discussion included Rubaiya Ahmed, founder of Obhoyaronno–Bangladesh Animal Welfare Society; architect Rakibul Haque Emil, founding chairman of People for Animal Welfare Foundation; and Dr Md Aziz Al Mamun, director of the Central Veterinary Hospital, among others.
Marking the day, the DLS also organised a colourful rally at 9:00am with the slogan "Let's work together to eliminate rabies."
