Preventive steps for Diphtheria required

A good number of projects have been undertaken in the health sector since liberation of the country to eradicate several diseases. Effective steps are also on, at present, to further improve the state of public health.

Results of some of these projects are already visible and there are noticeable changes in the health sector of the country. Recently, a contagious disease called diphtheria has been identified among Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. The important point about the disease is that it is generally transferred from one person to another through coughing.

In the language of bacteriology, Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the main carrier of bacteria for the disease. There is every possibility of the disease spreading into the south and western regions of the country unless preventive measures are taken. Cough of every patient entering the hospital should be examined properly before admission. At the same time, blood of every person living in areas surrounding the Rohingya camps should be examined as blood test is the proper way to identify presence of a germ in human body.

I would like to request all doctors working in the area to check up every patient coming to hospitals with health complaints.

Sumon Kumar Paul

DVM (PSTU)

Village: Naihati ; District: Khulna

[email protected]