3 die of Nipah virus this year: IEDCR

Three people have died from Nipah virus this year, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control And Research (IEDCR) confirmed on Monday.

IEDCR said that the infected person they first identified is a resident of Pabna. He died while undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Another person died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal.

Last week, another person died at Faridpur Medical College Hospital.

All the deceased were in their forties.

People should refrain from drinking raw date juice as the consumption can lead to the spread of the Nipah virus among humans, IEDCR said.

Doctors and nurses should wear masks and gloves as an additional measure against the disease, which spreads in Bangladesh during winter.

In 2023, the presence of Nipah virus was found in the breast milk of a mother in the country. Later, the child of that mother died. The presence of the virus in breast milk is a rare occurrence worldwide.

Five people died after being infected with the virus across the country that year.

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