The government has issued an alert about the viral infectious disease Mpox (monkeypox) as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared it a public health emergency after the disease spread in some African countries.

“Amid declaration of a public health emergency by the WHO, we have taken precautionary measures in the country to prevent the disease here. We have asked the ports including the international airports to remain alert about the disease,” Dr Sheikh Daud Adnan, director (Disease Control) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told the Daily Sun on Saturday.

He said they have already started a campaign with cautionary messages on social media and mass media to make people aware of the disease.

“At the same time we have asked the airport authorities and airlines crews to remain alert, and send the suspected patients to hospitals immediately. The disease has spread in some countries and any passenger coming from abroad may carry the virus. So, we have to remain alert,” Daud Adnan added.

The DGHS official further said they have set up special units in Kurmitola General Hospital and Infectious Disease Hospital for the Mpox patients. “No Mpox patient has been detected in the country yet. If any suspected patient is found, they will have to be sent to these two hospitals for observation,” he added.

Senior officials of the DGHS’s Centre of Disease Control (CDC) on Friday held an emergency meeting with the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) authority, Civil Aviation Authority, airport authorities and officials of airports’ health services units to discuss the WHO alert on Mpox, their responsibilities and possible measures to prevent the disease.   

The HSIA Health Department has already put measures in place to deal with passengers with symptoms of Mpox.

They have also decided to distribute leaflets among the passengers at the airport’s arrival row. Besides, health desks with doctors on duty round the clock have been set up at the airport.

In the meeting, the CDC representatives highlighted protective measures such as avoiding close contact with people with suspected or confirmed monkeypox disease, wearing a medical mask, avoiding skin-to-skin contact and using disposable gloves, washing hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

If necessary, passengers with symptoms will be sent by ambulance to Kurmitola General Hospital, Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) and Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Govt Hospital for observation and diagnosis to confirm their condition, the DGHS sources said.

HSIA health officials said they have started screening the temperature of arriving passengers by the thermal scanner archway.

Following the detection of an Mpox case in Pakistan, the DGHS in Bangladesh has launched a hotline as a precautionary measure.

Anyone exhibiting symptoms of Mpox is urged to contact the hotlines at 16263 or 10655 immediately, said a press release from DGHS on Saturday.

“The virus has spread to several countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya,” it said.

“If you experience any symptoms, come into contact with an infected person, or develop symptoms within 21 days of travelling to a country with an outbreak, please contact the hotlines at 16263 or 10655,” the DGHS added.

Notably, the Mpox outbreak in Congo has killed 548 people since the start of this year.

First cases outside Africa detected

Sweden on Thursday announced the first case outside Africa of a more dangerous variant of Mpox, which the WHO has declared a global public health emergency, while the Pakistan health officials on Friday announced their first case of the deadly Mpox virus this year.

Talking to the Daily Sun, Prof Dr Saif Ullah Munshi of the Department of Virology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) said, “Bangladesh is under threat of the Mpox disease as a patient has already been detected in our neighbouring country. The health authority must take immediate preventive measures and take all necessary preparations to fight against the disease.”

“The disease has also been detected in the Middle East, from where a number of passengers are coming regularly, especially from the UAE,” he added.

Terming the Mpox highly contagious, the eminent virologist said the virus can transmit in various ways like through coughing, sneezing, sexual contact, and coming in contact with contaminated materials, or with infected animals. “Mpox may cause death.”

Be-nazir Ahmed, a public health expert, told the Daily Sun, “Mpox was not detected in Bangladesh in the past. However, there is a risk of transmission of the disease in Bangladesh as many of our citizens live abroad and they visit the country regularly. We have to remain alert and the health authority should take preparations and make a position paper on it. It also has to make a guideline on an urgent basis.”

According to the WHO, Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus.

Common symptoms of Mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

Laboratory confirmation of Mpox is done by testing skin lesion material by PCR.

“Mpox can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with someone who has Mpox. Vaccination can help prevent infection for people at risk,” the WHO added.

BDST: 1109 HRS, AUG 18, 2024
MN/SMS