IEDCR warns against drinking raw date juice as 1 dies of Nipah virus

Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control And Research has warned people against drinking raw date juice as a woman died after contracting the Nipah virus recently.

The woman from Rajshahi had a history of drinking raw date juice, IEDCR Director Professor Dr Tahmina Shirin said in a press conference on infectious diseases and Nipah virus infection during the Winter on Wednesday.

Mentioning the Nipah virus spreads through bat saliva or urine, she said when people drink raw date juice, they catch the virus.

Then, the person transmits it to family members or health workers, she said, adding, "Raw date juice should not be consumed."

The IEDCR researchers, however, say to boil date juice before drinking to get protection from the virus.

AAM/SU