Mahdi Hasan, BAU :
In this year, the capital is witnessing an outbreak of mosquito borne viral fever ‘Chikungunya’, a newly added public health concern of our country.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), is a member of the alphavirus genus, and Togaviridae family, affects humans, monkeys, rodents, bats and birds.
Humans serve as the reservoir for CHIKV during epidemic periods. Outside these periods the main reservoirs are monkeys or other non-human primates, rodents, bats, and birds.
During December 2008, an investigation team from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) investigated the first outbreak of Chikungunya fever in the Rajshahi and Chapianawabganj districts of Bangladesh.
Since then the disease was sporadic in Bangladesh before experiencing the outbreak in current year in the capital.
So investigation in wild animals is essential as the virus may be reserved in these animals during the past years before the outbreak in the country.
Scientists and researchers on Sunday made the comment in a seminar held at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh.
They also said that a map of Bangladesh in regards of mosquito species and mosquito population intensity which would be helpful to take mosquito control measures in prevention of Chikungunya and other mosquito borne diseases.
In this year, the capital is witnessing an outbreak of mosquito borne viral fever ‘Chikungunya’, a newly added public health concern of our country.
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), is a member of the alphavirus genus, and Togaviridae family, affects humans, monkeys, rodents, bats and birds.
Humans serve as the reservoir for CHIKV during epidemic periods. Outside these periods the main reservoirs are monkeys or other non-human primates, rodents, bats, and birds.
During December 2008, an investigation team from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) investigated the first outbreak of Chikungunya fever in the Rajshahi and Chapianawabganj districts of Bangladesh.
Since then the disease was sporadic in Bangladesh before experiencing the outbreak in current year in the capital.
So investigation in wild animals is essential as the virus may be reserved in these animals during the past years before the outbreak in the country.
Scientists and researchers on Sunday made the comment in a seminar held at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh.
They also said that a map of Bangladesh in regards of mosquito species and mosquito population intensity which would be helpful to take mosquito control measures in prevention of Chikungunya and other mosquito borne diseases.
BAU VC Prof Dr Ali Akbar was present as chief guest in the seminar with Prof Dr Nazim Ahmad of Physiology department in the chair.
Prof Dr Md Shahiduzzaman, head of parasitology department, and Prof Dr Tofazzal Hossain Hawlader, Head of Entomology Department, presented the keynote speech before the audiences.
During the discussion session, speakers said that chikungunya is a serious national public health concern. Everyone from their position should play role in prevention of this disease, they added.
They also said that awareness should build among the people carefully without creating any panic.
Teachers from different departments of BAU and physicians from BAU health care center participated in the seminar.
