Staff Reporter :
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has asked all the District Administrations to prepare a list of passengers who have returned Bangladesh from China in the last 14 days.
The decision was taken during a meeting at the DGHS on Tuesday amid mounting concern over a possible outbreak of Wuhan Coronavirus in the country.
Chaired by DG Health Prof Dr Abul Kalam, the meeting also reviewed Bangladesh’s preparedness to deal with the virus.
As per the decision, Deputy Commissioners, Police Superintendents and Civil Surgeons have been asked to prepare the list in their respective districts.
At the meeting, Civil Surgeons were briefed on the overall situation of the coronavirus, outbreak and given instructions on how to stop the possible spread of the virus in the country. It also asked them to inform all heath officials in this regard.
It reviewed Bangladesh’s preparedness to deal with
the virus amid mounting global concern over increasing number of cases in China and several other countries, officials said.
Besides, the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) have also been briefed regarding travelling to and from China, the country of origin of the outbreak. Chinese Health authorities said there were 7,711 confirmed cases of infection as of the end of Wednesday, mostly in Hubei province where the death toll rose to 170.
“We have already taken a number of precautionary measures to deal with suspected cases in Bangladesh,” said Prof Dr Abul Kalam. In Bangladesh, no case has been detected so far though over 3,500 people have been screened at international ports having travel from China.
“Those who have returned from China in recent weeks have been put in observation as a precautionary step,” said Prof Dr Abul Kalam, adding that screening of travellers at land ports are also on as part of preventive measure.
Meanwhile, a man who returned from China on Thursday was admitted to Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka with symptoms similar to those of coronavirus.
He was taken to the hospital by a government ambulance in the morning after he was diagnosed with high fever in the thermal scanner at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
DG Health Prof Dr. Abul Kalam Azad confirmed the information saying the passenger has been admitted to the isolation ward and required examination will be conducted.
Medical Officer at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Health Center Dr Shahriar Sajjad said, “We sent the Bangladeshi to Kurmitola Hospital because of some early symptoms of coronavirus,”
Due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China, all inbound passengers from China have been tested with thermal scanners and fever measuring devices since January 21. The screening of 3,754 passengers returning to China was completed as of Thursday morning.
Dr. Sajjad said the thermal scanner shows the red light when a passenger’s fever is above 100 degrees. Five of such fevered passengers were found while screening since January 21. However, it could not be ascertained that they had been infected with coronavirus.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the common symptoms of the virus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has asked all the District Administrations to prepare a list of passengers who have returned Bangladesh from China in the last 14 days.
The decision was taken during a meeting at the DGHS on Tuesday amid mounting concern over a possible outbreak of Wuhan Coronavirus in the country.
Chaired by DG Health Prof Dr Abul Kalam, the meeting also reviewed Bangladesh’s preparedness to deal with the virus.
As per the decision, Deputy Commissioners, Police Superintendents and Civil Surgeons have been asked to prepare the list in their respective districts.
At the meeting, Civil Surgeons were briefed on the overall situation of the coronavirus, outbreak and given instructions on how to stop the possible spread of the virus in the country. It also asked them to inform all heath officials in this regard.
It reviewed Bangladesh’s preparedness to deal with
the virus amid mounting global concern over increasing number of cases in China and several other countries, officials said.
Besides, the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) have also been briefed regarding travelling to and from China, the country of origin of the outbreak. Chinese Health authorities said there were 7,711 confirmed cases of infection as of the end of Wednesday, mostly in Hubei province where the death toll rose to 170.
“We have already taken a number of precautionary measures to deal with suspected cases in Bangladesh,” said Prof Dr Abul Kalam. In Bangladesh, no case has been detected so far though over 3,500 people have been screened at international ports having travel from China.
“Those who have returned from China in recent weeks have been put in observation as a precautionary step,” said Prof Dr Abul Kalam, adding that screening of travellers at land ports are also on as part of preventive measure.
Meanwhile, a man who returned from China on Thursday was admitted to Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka with symptoms similar to those of coronavirus.
He was taken to the hospital by a government ambulance in the morning after he was diagnosed with high fever in the thermal scanner at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
DG Health Prof Dr. Abul Kalam Azad confirmed the information saying the passenger has been admitted to the isolation ward and required examination will be conducted.
Medical Officer at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Health Center Dr Shahriar Sajjad said, “We sent the Bangladeshi to Kurmitola Hospital because of some early symptoms of coronavirus,”
Due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China, all inbound passengers from China have been tested with thermal scanners and fever measuring devices since January 21. The screening of 3,754 passengers returning to China was completed as of Thursday morning.
Dr. Sajjad said the thermal scanner shows the red light when a passenger’s fever is above 100 degrees. Five of such fevered passengers were found while screening since January 21. However, it could not be ascertained that they had been infected with coronavirus.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the common symptoms of the virus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
