Zika virus detected in Dhaka

Zika virus has been detected in Dhaka, with eight cases identified in the past three months. Last year, five people were also diagnosed with the virus, all of whom have now recovered after receiving medical treatment.

Professor Tahmina Shirin, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR), confirmed the matter on Wednesday (November 27).

Zika virus was first detected in the country in 2014. There is no specific treatment for Zika; treatment is symptomatic.

Researchers have noted a rise in Chikungunya cases in Dhaka alongside Zika, indicating that people in the city are being affected by three diseases: Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya, all of which are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.

IEDCR said that there is no specific treatment for Zika. Patients are advised to rest, consume plenty of fluids, and take medications for fever and pain as prescribed by doctors. If the patient's condition worsens, they should contact the nearest government hospital or seek admission.

Scientists have identified two types of the Zika virus: African and Asian. According to sources at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,b), the strain found in Dhaka has been analyzed and confirmed to be of the Asian type.