Indian Covid variant found in 3-4 more persons: DGHS
After returning home from neighbouring India, some three to four people have been diagnosed with the Indian variant of Covid-19 in Chapainawabganj and Jashore districts.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) spokesperson Robed Amin shared the information in a virtual bulletin Wednesday.
"The Indian variant has already arrived in our country. (Another) Full wave of infection may start at any time. Therefore, everyone should be aware and follow the hygiene rules," he said.
He added that the authorities are getting news of finding the Indian Covid-19 variant - B-1617 - in a number of patients.
"According to the latest news, this variant has been found in 3-4 people in Chapainawabganj and Jashore. This is a matter of concern," he added.
Robed Amin further said the public has no choice but to follow the hygiene rules no matter which country the variants comes from.
For the first time in Bangladesh, some six people were diagnosed with the deadly Indian variant in Jashore on 8 May. They all returned home from the neighbouring country in the prior days.
According to the health authorities, the Indian Covid variant is highly contagious. The infected persons may already have infected those who came in contact with them. If the pandemic guidelines are not followed, the variant can spread among the masses.
Though the Bangladesh government closed the border with India due to resurgence in coronavirus ceses, many Bangladeshis were allowed to enter the country, subject to having a Covid-19 negative certificate. They were put in mandatory quarantine.
Coronavirus infections soared in India in a "tsunami" of disease, setting a new world record for cases over the past few weeks.
India's second wave has hit the country with such ferocity that hospitals are running out of oxygen, beds, and antiviral drugs. Many patients are being turned away due to lack of space for them.
