Consumption of raw date juice is prohibited: IEDCR

Scary facts about Nipah virus

Staff Correspondent: The saliva secreted from the mouth of bats and even their excrement mixes with the juice of dates. Nipah virus directly infects humans by eating this juice raw. The risk of death in patients with this disease is very high. Therefore, if the infection is not prevented now, the disease may take the form of an epidemic, said the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). Therefore, the company banned the consumption of raw date juice.
This information was given in a seminar titled ‘Nipah virus spread and risk awareness’ at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) auditorium in Mohakhali on December 10.
In a press conference, IEDCR said that Nipah virus has infected the most people in the last one year. The death rate is 71 percent. In the last 7 years, 339 people have been affected by this disease in the country. Among them, 240 people died. Apart from this, 10 of the 14 infected people died in the last one year.
According to IEDCR data, Nipah virus was first detected in the country in 2004. Since then, the number of infected and dead increased in winter.
Director of IEDCR Professor Dr. Tahmina Shireen said, so that people do not eat raw juice – a massive campaign is needed in this regard. Security for juice (vendors) is not real security. In particular, the purchase of raw juice online should be discouraged.
Dr. Nitish Debnath ofOne Health said, I have been working to make everyone aware for a long time; But awareness has not been created. Nipah virus is usually transmitted by bats; But it can also happen in complex processes. As seen in the first infection. It spread from fruit eaten by bats to pigs, and from pigs to humans.
Nipsom Director Prof. Dr. Mirzadi Sabrina Flora said the death rate of Nipah virus is very high. So, it is difficult to say whether you will survive if detected early. And those who survive, are suffering from paralysis. There is no chance of getting rid of Nipah without resistance. In the winter, juice festival or drinking palm juice from friends. Steps should be taken to stop it. He said Nipah patients do not want to be admitted to hospital. Because the service provider is also at risk of infection. In this situation, hospitals should have a dedicated ward, so that the patient can be isolated.
Director of IEDCR Professor Prof. Dr. Shahdat Hossain, Director of Health Department (MIS), Director (Hospital and Clinic Branch) Dr. Abul Hossain, Moinul Hossain etc.
Incidentally, in 2001, the country’s first Nipah virus patient was identified in Meherpur district. Since then, patients have been identified every year except 2002, 2006 and 2016. The most affected in 2004. 67 people were infected with Nipah virus that year.