Dengue variant DenV-3 identified, most cases in capital

Dengue outbreak has been increasing amid coronavirus pandemic. 250-300 cases are reported every day.

Researchers claimed to identify new variant, DenV-3 of the mosquito-borne disease. Most cases were reported in capital Dhaka.

Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) disclosed the information conducting genomic sequence of 20 samples.

BCSIR came up with the disclosure on Sunday (August 29) during a programme to unveil the genomic sequence data of the dengue virus at IFRD auditorium of the institution in Dhaka. Head of the research team Dr. Selim Khan presented the research report.

Dengue virus was first detected in 1960. This type of the dengue fever was first identified in the country in 2017. People got the immunity in DenV-1 and DenV-2, but no immunity is yet to create against DenV-3, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Professor Doctor Saifullah Munsi told this while speaking to the occasion.

“This year, people are being infected to DenV-3 which dis more dangerous than DenV-1 and 2. However, the genome sequencing would pave the way for BCSIR to produce vaccine future.

BCSIR chairman professor Md. Aftab Ali Sheikh said, Dengue fever has four Serotypes which are exposed in DenV-1, DenV-2, DenV-3 and DenV-4.