Swine flu infected people rises to 261

With the detection of 14 new cases on Wednesday, the total number of Swine Flu inflicted persons in the country rose to 261, of them one has died.
“Fourteen more cases have been detected today as we have tested few samples of suspected swine flu cases collecting from different hospitals in the city”, IEDCR Senior Scientific Officer Dr Mushtaque Hussein told a seminar on Swine flu.
He said since the virus is spreading to community, there is no need to test to confirm the virus. Rather, if symptom is found, the patient should immediately be treated without wasting time.
Last Sunday Mita Chakrvarty died of the swine flu at Lab Aid Hospital.
Dr Mushtaque said the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) is testing few suspected samples to ascertain whether any unknown virus being formed combining swine flu, bird flu and seasonal flu sneaks into human body.
Daily Bhorer Kagoz and Desh TV jointly organized the seminar at National Press Club. PM’s Health Adviser Prof Syed Modassir Ali, health expert Abu Mohammad Zakir Hossain, communication officer of UNICEF Shamsuddin Ahmed, Dr. Pinaki Bhattacharya and NGO activist Dr Khairul Hossain spoke at the seminar.
Dr. Modassir Ali said individual health awareness is the only way to prevent the swine flu.
“There is no alternative of personal hygienic at this stage to contain the virus”, he added.
Modassir Ali said such kind of virus is a part of life. So, we need to build social unity to face it. He suggested withdrawal of VAT on raw material of Oseltamivir medicine so it could be produced with cheap rate for treating swine flu patients.
The government should provide the medicine only to the authorized centers by trained physicians so none can illegally stock the medicine, he said. The Adviser stressed on forming a national focal point to take effective measure to tackle the epidemic situation, if any.
He said the government should also take effective measures in rural areas to create awareness about the flu.
Demanding lifting of VAT on raw material of Oseltamivir, Pinaki Bhattacharya said the selling price of each oseltamivir capsule is now Tk 180. It is possible to produce the capsule at cheaper rate, if the government withdraws vat on raw material, he said.
Photo: Banglar Chokh

Courtesy of The New Nation