'2,000 die of rabies a year'
Staff Correspondent
Around 2,000 people die of rabies every year in the country, said the speakers at a press conference yesterday. This is the second highest death rate from rabies caused by dog bite in the world, they added. The press conference on 'Rabies in Bangladesh' was organised by Renata Limited, a pharmaceutical company, at a city restaurant. Managing Director of Renata Limited Syed Kaiser Kabir said Nervous Tissue Vaccine (NTV), which is still used to prevent rabies, is outdated and has many side effects. It needs 14 doses of vaccine in navel and its failure rate is 10 percent. There is another Tissue Culture Vaccine (TCV) whose side effect is much less but it costs a little more. It, however, needs only five doses, he added. Kabir said it is a matter of concern that the death rate is not declining due to lack of awareness. Product Manager Emdadul Huq said it is very urgent to start the treatment within 24 hours. Journalist Shafiq Rehman, Shafiul Alam and Mohammad Halimusshan of Renata Ltd also spoke.
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