Livestock Epidemiology Department investigatinh dog, jackal menace in Sadullapur.
Md Ashikur Rahman, Sadullahpur (Gaibandha)
A high-level monitoring team from the Epidemiology Division of the Department of Livestock Services has mobilized to investigate incidents involving the death of a seven-year-old child following a dog bite in Sadullapur and injuries to nine people—including women and children—caused by a fox bite in Sundarganj.
Simultaneously, the team is investigating reports of blisters appearing on the bodies of several individuals who had participated in butchering a sick cow in Sundarganj.
Dr. Md. Zobaidul Kabir, the District Livestock Officer (DLO) of Gaibandha, confirmed these details. He stated that the high-level team—comprising officials from Dhaka and Rangpur—conducted on-site inspections throughout the day last Tuesday (from morning until evening). They collected samples and data from the three affected areas in Sadullapur and Sundarganj to investigate the source and cause of the outbreaks.
The team also gathered information and samples regarding the people who fell ill after butchering the sick cow in Sundarganj. The four-member team is led by Convener Dr. Rafiqul Alam, Deputy Epidemiologist at the Rangpur Divisional Livestock Office.
The other three members are Dr. Sajedul Hayat (Virology Division, Dhaka), Kamrunnahar Akter (Epidemiology Division, Department of Livestock Services), and a representative from STRI Bangladesh. Regarding the child's death from the dog bite: on September 21, a child named Sinthia (9) died after being bitten by a dog in Hatbamuni village, Kamarpara Union, Sadullapur. Rakib Hossain (26), a young man from the same area, was also injured by the same dog. The deceased child, Sinthia, was the daughter of Saju Miah from North Hatramuni village in the upazila.
The injured Rakib is the son of Akbar Ali from the same locality; he works as a hotel employee. Sources from the Sadullapur Upazila administration, the Livestock Department, and the deceased's family reported that on the afternoon of September 21, Sinthia Akter was returning home after attending private tutoring. On the way, a dog chased her and eventually bit Cynthia on the neck, causing a severe, bleeding wound to her windpipe.
The dog also bit Rakib. Relatives and locals later rescued them and took them to Gaibandha General Hospital, where the attending physician declared Cynthia dead. Meanwhile, Rakib received medical treatment for a bite on his hand.
