Keep hospital beds ready for Nipah virus patients: DGHS

The government today gave directives to the relevant authorities to keep the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Dedicated Covid-19 Hospital ready in the wake of the spread of the Nipah virus in 28 districts of the country.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued the directives asking the hospital authorities to keep 10 beds in the isolation ward and 10 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds prepared, said a press release signed by Dr Sheikh Daud Adnan, director (hospitals and clinics) of the DGHS.

On January 29, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said five people died of the Nipah virus across the country this year.

Eight people were infected with the Nipah virus and of them, five people died, he said.

Usually, more than 70 percent of infected people die and people who drink raw date juice and fruits partially eaten by birds, especially bats, have the possibility of being infected with the virus.

Besides, healthy people who come in contact with the infected ones also have the possibility of being infected with the virus and it spreads from person to person quickly which is a matter of concern.