January 27, 2004

MYSTERY DISEASE IN BANGLADESH

Recently I succumbed to strong headache and feverish conditions. A family member raised the question whether I had caught the mystery disease which has taken 15 lives in Northern Bangladesh. But to assure everybody I recuperated shortly.

The outbreak of the disease is really of great concern as doctors could not determine in a week what virus is causing the disease, which produces high fever, headache, vomiting and spells of unconsciousness and death at last. However the symptoms the disease could be encephalitis. Samples have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for analysis. It will take weeks to determine the type of the disease. Read more here.

Government sources are saying that the situation seems to be under control now as there are not many new patients. But when you don't know what you are fighting, everybody feels helpless.

This disease is not the bird flu which has spread in many Asian countries. Moreover Bangladesh banned import of chicken from Asian countries where there is bird flu.

I think that WHO or other international organizations should have an unit with specialists and modern equipments to reach those infested areas as soon as the disease outbreaks so that they can identify any new or rare disease at the shortest possible time and prescribe medicines to minimize deaths. Otherwise SARS or other new disease can come out large and threaten an epidemic anytime, anywhere.

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