Three labs designated for monkeypox test
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Sunday
February 05, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2023
Three labs designated for monkeypox test

Health

Tawsia Tajmim
04 August, 2022, 10:55 pm
Last modified: 04 August, 2022, 10:58 pm

Related News

  • Five dengue patients die in 24 hours
  • FBCCI seeks JICA assistance in setting up lab at ports
  • Monkeypox can spread to pet dogs, doctors report
  • Monkeypox: WHO creates forum, asks public to propose new name for virus
  • India reports first monkeypox death

Three labs designated for monkeypox test

The Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka’s Mohakhali, according to a draft plan, has been designated for monkeypox cases

Tawsia Tajmim
04 August, 2022, 10:55 pm
Last modified: 04 August, 2022, 10:58 pm
Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

Bangladesh has designated three laboratories for testing monkeypox samples, according to a draft plan of the health directorate which awaits approval.

All the three labs – National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Centre, Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and Institute of Public Health – are in Dhaka.     

If monkeypox cases surge, according to the draft preparedness and response plan, samples will be tested in the divisional headquarters.     

On 22 July, the health directorate issued an alert at the port of entries over the global monkeypox outbreak. On the next day, the disease was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) – the strongest call to action the agency can make.

Bangladesh is yet to detect a maiden monkeypox case. Only the IEDCR is now conducting the tests, as the medical facility alone has the testing reagents.

"We are testing the suspected cases at the port of entries, and allowing them to leave only after the negative confirmation," Prof Dr Nazmul Islam, director (Disease Control) at the health directorate, told The Business Standard.

The global case count is now over 25,000, with more than 6,000 in the US. At least 80 countries including neighbouring India have reported monkeypox cases, as the global death toll is now at least 10.

Prof Dr Nazmul said the total suspected cases they have screened so far at the port of entries are yet to reach the double digit.

"We want to get things ready beforehand so that we do not get caught by the global outbreak unprepared. For viral diseases like this, there are no alternatives to precaution," said Prof Nazmul, adding they have selected the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka's Mohakhali to treat monkeypox patients.

Dr Arifa Akram, head of virology department at the National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Centre, told TBS that the health directorate held a meeting on Thursday on the action plan on monkeypox.  

Apart from the port of entry, she said the designated labs will collect samples from medical facilities across the country.  

Monkeypox typically manifests itself with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications. It is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting for two to four weeks.

According to WHO, 98% of the monkeypox cases detected since the outbreaks emerged in May had been among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

"Dealing with the disease will be challenging as sexual orientation is a sensitive topic and homosexuality is not legal in Bangladesh," said Dr M Mushtuq Husain, adviser to the IEDCR.

Calling upon not to stigmatise the disease, rather to emphasise the risk of communication, he said anyone can catch it.

The public health expert recommended maintaining personal hygiene and social distancing.

Top News

Monkey pox / lab / Health Directorate

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • GDP growth declines to 7.1% in FY22, per capita income $2,793
    GDP growth declines to 7.1% in FY22, per capita income $2,793
  • Oil’s New Map: How India turns Russia crude into the west's fuel
    Oil’s New Map: How India turns Russia crude into the west's fuel
  • Photo: Collected
    Adani’s power to come to Bangladesh in first week of March: Nasrul Hamid

MOST VIEWED

  • Major Nipah outbreak feared as infections hit eight-year high
    Major Nipah outbreak feared as infections hit eight-year high
  • Illustration: TBS
    Woes of cancer care: Scarce treatment facilities keep patients wait for months
  • Photo: TBS
    32 districts at risk of Nipah virus: DGHS
  • Infographic: TBS
    Isolation ward, ICU beds at DNCC Covid Hospital ready for Nipah virus patients 
  • Photo: Collected
    Kidney and cornea donation: Sarah Islam should get state honour posthumously
  • Photo: Collected
    Gonoshasthaya offers Tk1,000 dialysis on night shift

Related News

  • Five dengue patients die in 24 hours
  • FBCCI seeks JICA assistance in setting up lab at ports
  • Monkeypox can spread to pet dogs, doctors report
  • Monkeypox: WHO creates forum, asks public to propose new name for virus
  • India reports first monkeypox death

Features

Say it with Colours

Say it with Colours

9h | Mode
Photo: Courtesy

From 'Made in Bangladesh' to 'Designed in Bangladesh'

11h | Panorama
Google must adjust to a world where content is increasingly generated by AI. Photo: Bloomberg

Google will join the AI wars, pitting LaMDA against ChatGPT

8h | Panorama
The megaproject Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has a debt of Tk90,474 crore. Photo: Courtesy

Projects funded with debt need to be selected prudently, and implemented timely

9h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

ICB to withdraw Padma Bank Investment as return

ICB to withdraw Padma Bank Investment as return

2h | TBS Insight
Kiara Advani & Sidharth Malhotra's Wedding Update

Kiara Advani & Sidharth Malhotra's Wedding Update

2h | TBS Entertainment
US shoots down Chinese spy balloon

US shoots down Chinese spy balloon

40m | TBS World
Lack of coordination, policy biggest problems

Lack of coordination, policy biggest problems

5h | TBS Round Table

Most Read

1
Leepu realised his love for cars from a young age and for the last 40 years, he has transformed, designed and customised hundreds of cars. Photo: Collected
Panorama

'I am not crazy about cars anymore': Nizamuddin Awlia Leepu

2
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo
Economy

IMF approves $4.7 billion loan for Bangladesh, calls for ambitious reforms

3
Fund cut as Dhaka's fast-track transit projects on slow spending lane
Infrastructure

Fund cut as Dhaka's fast-track transit projects on slow spending lane

4
Photo: Collected
Court

Japanese mother gets guardianship of daughters, free to leave country

5
Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL
Banking

Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL

6
Photo: Collected
Startups

ShopUp secures $30m debt financing to boost expansion, supply chain

EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net