Nipah virus claims 81 so far

Five outbreaks and 11 sporadic non-outbreaks of Nipah virus have been recognized since 2001, they disclosed while addressing the seminar at the ICDDR,B auditorium in the city.

It was organised by Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B).

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Identifying fruit bats as the natural reservoir of the Nipah virus in Bangladesh, international and local scientists also said climbing trees, drinking raw date palm juice or fruit, contact with sick animals and persons act as risky factors for Nipah virus infection.

Scientist Dr P Stephen Luby in his paper pointed out that each outbreak in Bangladesh occurred between Januray and April.

Prof Mahmudur Rahman and Emily Gurley, Dr Jahangir Hossain, Faridpur Civil Surgeon Dr SM Abul Khayer Miah and Tangail Civil Surgeon Dr Dewan Abdul Latif presented papers in the seminar.

Health Secretary AFM Sarwar Kamal, ICDDR,B Executive Director Prof David A Sack and Charles Liewellyn of USAID addressed it among others.