Treyfish
Moderator
Swine flu panic grips nation
News Report
Swine flu panic has gripped the country as the one person died of the deadly disease on Sunday night and many more are getting infected with the H1N1 virus, responsible for the disease, everyday.
The Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) on Monday confirmed death of Mitali Chakraborty (35) of Savar, who was undergoing treatment at private Lab Aid Hospital in the city after being tested positive for the virus on August 27.
According to the institute, the number of swine flu cases rose to 213 since the first case was reported on June 18 this year with 14 more people tested positive for H1N1 virus on Monday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the global spread of swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up in coming months and governments must boost preparations for a swift response.
A physician at Lab Aid Hospital said Mitali was a swine flu patient in critical condition and died at around 10.30 pm on Sunday night. "She was also suffering from other diseases," he said.
Earlier, Mitali was admitted to Enam Medical College Hospital, a hospital at Savar, on August 16 with fever and later shifted to Lab Aid Hospital. She was taking anti-viral drugs after being tested positive for H1N1 virus.
The death came a day after officials said the country''s alert level might be raised from 2 to 3, signalling an epidemic.
The official announcement regarding death of Mitali came after Prime Minister''s health affairs adviser Prof Syed Modasser Ali held a meeting with IEDCR officials on Monday.
According to IEDCR, the government has supplied anti-viral drugs to some state-run hospitals and some private hospitals for swine flu treatment.
"Currently, the government has a stock of 29 lakh Oseltamivir capsules to treat around three lakh patients," said IEDCR director Prof Mahmudur Rahman. "The drug is needed for a few patients. In most cases, the patients recover without the drug.
What is needed the most is to keep a patient isolated to contain the spread of the virus," he said.
Some pharmaceutical companies in the country, including Beximco, Eskayef and Popular Pharmaceuticals Ltd, have started manufacturing Oseltamivir with the brand name of Ose Flu, SK Flu and Oselta respectively.
Globally, Roche is producing the drug with the brand name Tamiflu.
The ingredients for producing the drug are same for all companies, said experts.
The government said a total of 12 hospitals are under surveillance, while 15 are ready for providing treatment to swine flu patients immediately.
WHO said there would soon be a period of further global spread of the virus, and most countries may see swine flu cases double every three to four days for several months until peak transmission is reached.
International attention has focused on how the pandemic is progressing in southern hemisphere countries such as Australia, which are experiencing winter and their flu season.
WHO earlier estimated that as many as two billion people could become infected over the next two years - nearly one-third of the world''s population.:tiphat:http://www.newstoday-bd.com/frontpage.asp?newsdate=#21408
News Report
Swine flu panic has gripped the country as the one person died of the deadly disease on Sunday night and many more are getting infected with the H1N1 virus, responsible for the disease, everyday.
The Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) on Monday confirmed death of Mitali Chakraborty (35) of Savar, who was undergoing treatment at private Lab Aid Hospital in the city after being tested positive for the virus on August 27.
According to the institute, the number of swine flu cases rose to 213 since the first case was reported on June 18 this year with 14 more people tested positive for H1N1 virus on Monday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the global spread of swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up in coming months and governments must boost preparations for a swift response.
A physician at Lab Aid Hospital said Mitali was a swine flu patient in critical condition and died at around 10.30 pm on Sunday night. "She was also suffering from other diseases," he said.
Earlier, Mitali was admitted to Enam Medical College Hospital, a hospital at Savar, on August 16 with fever and later shifted to Lab Aid Hospital. She was taking anti-viral drugs after being tested positive for H1N1 virus.
The death came a day after officials said the country''s alert level might be raised from 2 to 3, signalling an epidemic.
The official announcement regarding death of Mitali came after Prime Minister''s health affairs adviser Prof Syed Modasser Ali held a meeting with IEDCR officials on Monday.
According to IEDCR, the government has supplied anti-viral drugs to some state-run hospitals and some private hospitals for swine flu treatment.
"Currently, the government has a stock of 29 lakh Oseltamivir capsules to treat around three lakh patients," said IEDCR director Prof Mahmudur Rahman. "The drug is needed for a few patients. In most cases, the patients recover without the drug.
What is needed the most is to keep a patient isolated to contain the spread of the virus," he said.
Some pharmaceutical companies in the country, including Beximco, Eskayef and Popular Pharmaceuticals Ltd, have started manufacturing Oseltamivir with the brand name of Ose Flu, SK Flu and Oselta respectively.
Globally, Roche is producing the drug with the brand name Tamiflu.
The ingredients for producing the drug are same for all companies, said experts.
The government said a total of 12 hospitals are under surveillance, while 15 are ready for providing treatment to swine flu patients immediately.
WHO said there would soon be a period of further global spread of the virus, and most countries may see swine flu cases double every three to four days for several months until peak transmission is reached.
International attention has focused on how the pandemic is progressing in southern hemisphere countries such as Australia, which are experiencing winter and their flu season.
WHO earlier estimated that as many as two billion people could become infected over the next two years - nearly one-third of the world''s population.:tiphat:http://www.newstoday-bd.com/frontpage.asp?newsdate=#21408