High alert at Benapole for Zika virus

Immigration police at the check post of Benapole land port has been kept on special alert to prevent the spread of Zika virus through the border.

A five-member medical team is examining every foreigner entering Bangladesh through the check post, said Pronoy Sarker, in charge of Benapole health centre.

"The medical team members are conducting initial test with thermal scanner provided by the health services directorate in Dhaka. We have also increased surveillance in the check post area," he added.

Around 2,000 passport holders including one hundred foreigners go to and come from India through this port every day, officials said.

Benapole immigration police said the medical team started working yesterday following an order from the health ministry.