5 died of Nipah so far this year: Zahid Maleque

Five infected with Nipah virus have died in the country this year, according to Health Minister Zahid Maleque.

"We have so far received eight patients this year; five have died…drinking raw date juice, contaminated by bats carrying Nipah virus," he said on Sunday.

"Nipah virus infected people can transmit the disease. This is concerning."

The minister was addressing a press conference at his office at the Secretariat, urging people not to drink raw date juice.

The people should avoid eating fruits which are half-eaten by birds, he suggested.

"There is no cure for Nipah infection. There is no medicine or vaccines. Treatment is based on symptoms as like as the treatment of Covid-19," he said, adding, the government has stepped up an awareness campaign among people in this regard.

A special unit, equipped with ICU, has been prepared at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Dhaka's Mohakhali for providing services to the patients, he claimed.