In a record of sorts for 10 years, 2,472 people, including children, women and the aged, have been bitten by stray dogs in the Barisal city and metropolitan areas in the past one year --- over 200 of them in the two months gone by. At least 286 were injured in 10 upazilas of the district.  
After sunset, stray and infected dogs roam the streets of Barsal city. Residents find it difficult to venture out because dogs chase them, and in some cases, even bite them. Even policemen have come under the attack of dogs. A Barisal City Corporation (BCC) source said the number of stray dogs in the city has increased to 7,000 from 5,000 during the time. "It's a horrible situation at night. We are aware, but there's no way we can kill them," the source said.
The BCC has administered injection to over 4,500 stray dogs of the city in the past one year. To make matters worse, there is no vaccine support.
The Barisal civil surgeon's office record says 5,640 people received animal bite in Barisal city, metro and district areas in the last one year. Of them, 3,734 were bitten by stray dogs and 1,906 by other animals like fox, cat and so on. This is the most number of dog bite cases in the past 10 years. On an average, 10 persons visit Barisal Sadar Hospital for dog bite treatment every day.
Dr AFM Shafuuddin, civil surgeon of Barisal, said rabies is a fatal disease transmitted to humans through biting by some animals, including dogs, cats, foxes and mongooses carrying the virus. Rabies spreads quickly within the immune system and attacks the nervous system before vaccination can create antibody. The anti-rabies vaccine is available in the open market, but it is expensive for common people to complete the course of five ampoules.
"We have increased our monthly requirement of the anti-rabies vaccine from 3,000 to 6,000 ampoules. But the supply is poor. Only 90 vials of the vaccine were given to us in the past one month, against a much higher demand. People are forced to buy the vaccine from outside paying Tk. 1,640," he added.
While visiting Barisal Sadar General Hospital on Monday, this correspondent found 70 dog bite cases, but there was no vaccine. Families of the patients had to buy it from outside, and only then could the treatment be carried out at the hospital. Nazma Begum, a nurse of the hospital, said she also came under attack by dogs in the Kalibari area of the city last Friday.  She said she had never seen such a rush to get treated for dog bite at the hospital earlier.
Dr Matiur Rahman, chief health officer of the BCC, said that following an order of the higher court, the BCC stopped killing of stray dogs on November 3, 2013. Before that, the city corporation used to kill at least 1,000 stray dogs a year to control the dog population.