BANGLADESH

The virus that killed five people at Jaipurhat in the last four days has been identified as Nipah.

The Institute of Epidemiology Diseases Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed on its website on Tuesday that the five had indeed died from Nipah. A team from the institute are now working in the affected area.

The IECDR said human infections took place in Joypurhat municiplatiy and Khetlal Upazila.

Of the five deaths, two are from Khetlal and the others from the municipality. They died in Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

On Jan 21, a five-member IECDR expert team went to Bogra and Rajshahi to collect blood and other samples.

Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital said it had launched a separate unit for Nipah-infected patients.

Nipah virus causes severe illness characterised by inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), respiratory disease, seizures, vomiting and fainting.

Experts advise against drinking unprocessed date extracts, as fruit bats, the natural host of the Nipah virus, could contaminate the juice.
They also advise not eating partially eaten fruits, wash them before eating and washing hands after coming into contact with patients.