Raw date juice unsafe, may create disaster: IEDCR

Drinking raw date juice is not safe, no matter how much caution is taken to collect it from tree, said the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control And Research.

A tendency of drinking raw date juice has been seen among people recently but they don't know what disaster it may create, IEDCR Director Prof Dr Tahmina Shirin said in a press release on Tuesday. 

"We are asking all not to drink raw date juice because the sap is unsafe, no matter how much caution is taken in collecting it," she added.

Earlier on January 11, the IEDCR warned people against drinking raw date juice as a woman died after contracting the Nipah virus.

At that time, Dr Tahmina mentioned that the Nipah virus spreads through bat saliva or urine. 

When people drink raw date juice, they catch the virus, then, the person transmits it to family members or health workers, she added.

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

AAM/SU