Staff Reporter :
The mosquito-born ‘West Nile’ virus has reportedly bitten a man near the capital Dhaka. The number of victims may rise in the infected area, reports media.
But the government has no idea as to how many people have been infected with the virus across the country.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says, the West Nile virus is usually dormant in the carcass. Viruses can cause people to die from nervous system collapse.
Symptoms are fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea and occasional rash, experts said.
West Nile fever can cause people become unconscious and reach risk of being paralyzed, they said.
One out of every five people suffers from fever and other symptoms. In one of 150 affected people condition worsens, and death also occurs, according to them.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Disease Prevention website, the West Nile virus is the major mosquito-born diseases in the United States. There is no vaccine to prevent the virus, and there is no specific treatment for the affected person.
The World Health Organization said, “The virus could be detected through at least five kinds of tests.”
The International Uterine Research Center, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) have identified the virus in a person’s body in Bangladesh.
Recently, the ICDDRB has provided necessary written documents to the government for gathering information to take decision over the virus, according to the report.
Experts, scientists and researchers described the ‘West Nile’ virus, as new in Bangladesh.
But there is no repost as to how did the virus come to Bangladesh.
A UN consultant said that more patients could be found by conducting a survey in the area where the patient was identified. The work should be done without delay.
Government sources said that the ICDDR has given letters to the Department of Health’s Disease Control, Hospital Branch and the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
The severity of the disease is higher in the affected horses and the horse dies.
Professor Sania Tahmina, Director of the Disease Control Branch, said, “We will ask the IEDCR to make further inquiries. Then we will decide what to do.”
Professor Mirzadi Sabrina, Director of the IEDCR, said no formal message was received from the disease control branch about the investigation. “When the message is received, we will investigate the incident, examine the family members and conduct a survey if necessary,” he said.
The World Health Organization says the virus was first detected in a woman’s body in the West Nile region of Uganda in Africa. The virus was detected in the body of a bird in the Nile or Nile valley.
Many people have been infected with the virus in many countries of the world in the last 50 years. The biggest outbreaks occurred in Greece, Israel, Romania, Russia and the United States. The disease is transmitted to Africa, parts of Europe, the Middle East, West Asia and Australia.
Regarding the new virus, Nazrul Islam, a former Vice-Chancellor and virus expert of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said, “Details about the new virus need to be learned. Health workers should also be informed. Above all, the mosquito control must be emphasized.”
