Bangladesh - Mysterious disease kills 15, baffles authorities

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 29 Jan 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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As people panicked about a mysterious disease that reportedly sent 65 people to hospitals across the country, government authorities adopted emergency measures to tackle the situation and requested all not to get frightened.

An official note signed by the Director General in-charge of the Health Directorate on Wednesday said the situation throughout the country was now stable and instructions were given to health Department authorities of all districts to remain 'vigilant' about the situation.

'Medical teams have been working in all the affected areas and a high-level committee of the Health Directorate has been formed,' said the DG.

'Besides, a special team comprising three experts has been kept standby to tackle any exigencies,' the note said, requesting that anyone having fever, severe headache, vomiting, convulsion, and unconsciousness should contact nearby hospital and physician as soon as the symptoms are seen.

According to control room of the Health Directorate, among the 65 people admitted to different hospitals from January 17 to till Tuesday, 55 reported from Goalando, two from Manikganj and four each from Joypurhat and Tangail. Of the admitted patients, 10 died in Goalando, one in Manikganj and four in Tangail.

The control-room sources said they had also report of admission of four more patients with such outlandish disease to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the directorate with health and concerned organisations was held today with the DG in-charge, Dr Dilu Ara Begum, presiding.

Representatives of Health Department, IEDCR Infectious Diseases Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Suhrawardy Hospital, ICDDR,B, UNICEF and World Health Organisation were present.

The meeting highlighted various sides for pathological tests in the affected areas. It was informed that a team of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and another for pathological test of IEDCR would go to Joypurhat to collect the information about four affected patients.

Meanwhile, the Health Directorate said there had been no reports of admission of new patient affected with the mystery disease from any part of the country till Tuesday.

Twelve patients so far admitted to DMCH, Tangail General Hospital and Goalando Health Complexes with the malaise are undergoing treatment, and their condition is improving.

The DG said different sample tests had already been sent to Atlanta, USA, for examination to find the cause of the disease. The findings are 'expected soon'. Rajbari Correspondent adds that three more children got admission to Goalando Upazila Hospital with mysterious disease today raising the total number to six.

The are Sahedul Islam (2 years and a half), Swadhin (2) and Mamun (5). Seven of the previously admitted patients got release after cure. But panic is still prevailing in the locality.

Five medical teams have been working 24 hours in the affected areas. However Assistant Professor of Dr Muhammad Badrul Alam, a member of special team, said not all people admitted with fever are patients of mysterious disease.

After visiting different areas of Goalando upazila, famous for poultry firm industry, it is found that firm industry has badly affected with the panic as the owners could not sell their birds due to the disease.

Farm owner Nasimuddin Rumon told UNB that a section of people have been conducting propaganda of spreading bird flu in the area for which the wholesalers are not coming here.