DGHS
35-years-olds to be made eligible for Covid jabs: DGHS DG
The eligible age for receiving Covid-19 jabs in Bangladesh will be officially lowered to 35, from the current 40, said the Directorate General of Health services on Monday.
DGHS DG Dr ABM Khurshid Alam revealed about the expanded age range during a conversation with the reporters today.
A notification will be issued in this regard soon, he said.
READ: 16 more hospitalised in 24 hrs as dengue cases soar: DGHS
Farmers and workers are going to be included in the list for vaccine registration, said Khurshid Alam.
A list of 1,45,000 students of public universities collected from the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been sent to the Information and Telecommunications Department and a letter will be sent in this regard, said DGHS DG.
At first, only people above 55 years old were announced to be eligible for vaccine registration.
Later the age limit was lowered twice by DGHS to bring more people under the vaccination drive.
Currently Covid-19 vaccine registration is going on in three priority categories- front line law enforcement officers, medical students and residential students of universities. In these cases the age requirement is waived.
READ: Nationwide lockdown not needed if transmission in Dhaka, nearby districts is controlled: DGHS
Covid getting deadlier in Bangladesh; record-high 153 die in 24 hours
The second wave of Covid-19 in Bangladesh is getting much deadlier with 153 more people losing lives to the virus in 24 hours till Sunday morning, pushing up the total death toll to 15,065.
With this, the daily-death record was shattered thrice in the country within eight days as 143 deaths were reported on July1 and 119 on June 27.
During the period, 8,661 more Covid cases were detected after testing 29,879 samples, overwhelming the country’s healthcare system quickly.
This raises the country's case positivity rate during the period to 28.99% from Saturday’s 27.39%, according to a handout provided by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the fatality rate remained static at 1.59%
With the fresh cases, Bangladesh’s caseload mounted to 944,917 today, said the DGHS.
So far, 833,897 people have recovered from the virus infections, putting the recovery rate at 88.25%.
Khulna division today recorded 51 deaths while Dhaka saw 46. Besides, 15 people each in Chattogram and Rangpur, 12 in Rajshahi, nine in Mymensingh, three in Barishal and two in Sylhet divisions died of Covid-19 today.
The country saw 2,404 Covid deaths in April, 1,169 in May and 1,884 in June, marking those the most fatal months of this year.
Also, July was the most fatal month of 2020, reporting 1,264 deaths followed by 1,197 deaths in June that year.
Also read: Khulna logs record 46 single-day Covid deaths
Herd immunity unlikely anytime soon
Although its study suggests around 71 percent of Dhaka city dwellers have already gained antibodies for coronavirus, an icddr,b scientist says herd immunity threshold is still out of reach in Bangladesh’s capital, let alone the whole country to reach it.
Dr Rubhana Raqib, a senior scientist at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), also says it may not be possible to attain the long-term herd immunity for Covid-19 as long as the virus continues to mutate as she thinks highly contagious new variants can break people’s immune protection gained either from the previous infections or vaccination.
In a recent interview with UNB, she also said it is generally assumed that Covid-19 may remain active like influenza and other flues for a long time and it is quite possible that people will need to receive the vaccine at a regular interval until the virus loses its mutation or virulence capability.
icddr,b conducted a study titled “Driving Factors of Covid-19 in Slums and Non-Slum Areas of Dhaka and Chittagong,” between October 2020 and February 2021 to evaluate the extent of the spread of the virus in the slum and non-slum communities of the two cities.
30 more with dengue hospitalised in Dhaka in 24 hrs
Thirty new patients diagnosed with dengue were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka in the last 24 hours until Saturday morning as the mosquito-borne disease continued to rise during monsoon, authorities said.
A total of 93 patients diagnosed with dengue are currently receiving treatment at 41 government and private hospitals in Dhaka while one outside the city, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read: Risk of dengue outbreak rises amid lockdown
Meanwhile, none was reported to be receiving treatment for dengue in hospitals outside Dhaka.
A total of 434 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and of them, 341 have been released after recovery.
Health authorities reported 1,193 dengue cases and three confirmed dengue-related deaths in 2020.
Read: 18 dengue patients undergoing treatment at Dhaka hospitals
According to official figures, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019.
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 when it claimed 93 lives. In the following three years, the fatalities almost fell to zero.
Read: 23 new patients hospialized amid surge in dengue cases
However, the mosquito-borne viral infection struck again in 2018, killing 26, and infecting 10,148 people.
Covid swallowing people in Bangladesh; 132 more die
As Covid-19 cases keep surging at a breakneck speed across Bangladesh, the country reported more than 100 deaths for the sixth straight day until early Friday, after confirming its first fatality on March 18 last year.
The new number, 132 deaths, took the country's toll to 14,778. Bangladesh reported 143 deaths on Thursday, its highest-ever daily fatality from the pandemic, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also, 8,483 people were diagnosed with the disease from 30,012 sample tests in the preceding 24 hours, bringing the country's caseload since the beginning of the pandemic to 930,042. Bangladesh reported its highest single-day cases of 8,822 on Wednesday.
The country's test positivity rate reached the peak at 28.27%, which was 25.90% on Thursday and 24.87% on August 4 last year.
Also read: Lockdown: Dhaka dons deserted look on Day 2
Also, new infections have been averaging nearly 7,000 for the past few days – 99% of the peak. The highest daily average was reported on April 9.
One in every 12 Bangladeshis aged 60 years or above may have dementia: Study
One in every 12 individuals 60 years or older in Bangladesh have dementia (prevalence 8%), says a national survey on Wednesday.
The burden is higher in Rajshahi (15%) and Rangpur (12%) than other divisions, and did not vary between urban and rural areas (8%).
The burden of dementia among females was found higher than males across all ages and divisions.
The study estimates that the total number of dementia cases in Bangladesh in 2020 could be about 1.1 million, including 0.28 million males and 0.83 million females.
The study projects that the number could increase to 1.37 million in 2025 and could be doubled in 2041 (2.4 million), which may increase even further if not intervened effectively.
On Wednesday, icddr,b in collaboration with the Non-Communicable Disease Control Programme of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the National Institute of Neuroscience & Hospital (NINS), organised a virtual webinar titled “The burden of dementia among older people in Bangladesh: Findings of a National Survey” to disseminate the recently concluded survey findings.
Professor Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General, DGHS, graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director at icddr,b, and Prof. Quazi Deen Mohammad, Director, NINS were special guests, while Professor Dr Robed Amin, Line Director, NCDC Programme, DGHS chaired the event.
Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities.
Also read: Drug can curb dementia's delusions, researchers find
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 50 million people have dementia globally, and 60 per cent of them are from low-and middle-income countries.
It is to be noted that there is very little information on dementia among the South Asian population, including Bangladesh.
Unavailability of data has challenged the policymakers to consider and develop strategies and programmes to provide quality care to its senior citizens who suffer the most.
The majority of the NCD prevention and control programmes target productive age groups with little emphasis on mental health.
Covid claims 112 more lives in Bangladesh; positivity rate hits 23.97%
The Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh is gradually heading towards a grim level as the country reported 112 more deaths and 7,666 fresh infections in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
With the new infections, the country’s positivity rate reached another peak of 23.97% from Monday’s 23.86% which was recorded 23.57% last on April 9 this year.
The percentage reached this shocking level after the test of 31,982 samples during the period, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
New infections have been averaging 5,000 for the past few days – 75% of the peak.
Bangladesh is reporting over 100 deaths for the third consecutive day this month.
The country saw a record level of 8,436 Covid cases on Monday and the highest 119 deaths on Sunday since confirming its first cases on March 8 last year.
With the new numbers, the country’s death toll now stands at 14,388 while the caseload at 904,436.
However, the country’s fatality rate remained static at 1.59% while the recovery rate fell to 89.75% following a continuous drop.
Read: Massive vaccination to begin in July: PM
Of the deaths, 35 were reported in Khulna today, recording the highest among all divisions for the third consecutive day, while 22 in Dhaka, 21 in Rajshahi, 16 in Chattogram, 10 in Rangpur, four in Mymensingh, three in Barishal and one in Sylhet divisions.
The Dhaka division remained the highest fatal region recording 7,562 deaths followed by Chattogram with 2,727 deaths, Khulna with 1,235 deaths and Rajshahi with 1,011 deaths.
12 new Dengue patients hospitalized amid a surge in cases
Twelve new dengue patients were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka in the last 24 hours until Monday morning amid a spike in the mosquito-borne disease during monsoon.
Sixty-three dengue patients are currently receiving treatment at 41 government and private hospitals in Dhaka, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Hospitals outside Dhaka got no patient with dengue during the period.
Also read: 45 dengue patients undergoing treatment at Dhaka hospitals: DGHS
Currently, 64 dengue patients are being treated in different government and private hospitals across the country.
A total of 337 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and of them, 273 patients recovered.
Health authorities reported 1,193 dengue cases and three confirmed dengue-related deaths in 2020..
According to official figures, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019.
Also read: How to protect yourself and your family from Dengue fever
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 when it claimed 93 lives. In the following three years, the fatalities almost fell to zero.
However, the mosquito-borne viral infection struck again in 2018, killing 26, and infecting 10,148 people.
Also read: Dengue: Bangladesh sees significant improvement
23 new patients hospialized amid surge in dengue cases
Twenty-three dengue patients were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka in the last 24 hours until Saturday morning amid a spike in the mosquito-borne disease in the country.
Bangladesh is currently seeing a rise in dengue cases following the annual trends while the country grapples with a surge in Covid-19 infections.
Sixty six dengue patients are currently receiving treatment at 41 government and private hospitals in Dhaka, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services(DGHS).
Also read: 45 dengue patients undergoing treatment at Dhaka hospitals: DGHS
Besides, one patient with dengue was admitted to a hospital outside Dhaka taking the total number of infected people in the country to 67 as of Saturday.
A total of 247 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and of them, 202 patients recovered.
Health authorities reported 1,193 dengue cases and three confirmed dengue-related deaths in 2020.
Also read: How to protect yourself and your family from Dengue fever
According to official figures, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019.
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 and it claimed 93 lives. In three years, the fatality number almost fell to zero.
However, the mosquito-borne viral infection struck again in 2018, killing 26, and infecting 10,148 people.
Rapid rise in Bangladesh’s Covid cases, 81 more die
Amid the mounting worries over Bangladesh’s Coronavirus situation, health authorities logged 6,058 more new Covid-19 cases with a positivity rate of 19.93 % in 24 hours until Thursday morning.
The positivity rate fell slightly to19.93 % from Wednesday’s 20.27 %, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read:Bangladesh to get $ 940 mln ADB loans for procuring Covid vaccine
Besides, 81 lives were lost to Covid during the 24-hour period, bringing the national tally to 13,868.
The fresh cases pushed up the total caseload to 8,72,935, the handout added.
However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.59%.
Read: Khulna division sees 20 Covid deaths in a day
So far, 794,783 people have recovered from the virus infections with 3,230 new ones.
Infections keep rising in different parts of the country as people are defying health protocols amid ‘loose’ restrictions despite health experts’ repeated warnings about severe consequences.
Nationwide lockdown not needed if transmission in Dhaka, nearby districts is controlled: DGHS
The countrywide lockdown will not be necessary if Covid-19 transmission can be controlled in Dhaka and its adjacent districts, says the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
DGHS spokesperson Dr Robed Amin came up with the remark at its daily virtual briefing on Covid-19 on Wednesday.
“We’re observing the infection rates both in Dhaka and the surrounding districts. If the situation worsens in the capital first, a lockdown will be imposed in Dhaka and then across the country,” he said.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 85 more deaths, positivity rate crosses 20%
In response to a question about vaccines, Dr Amin said Bangladesh has a shortage of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine doses.
“Such deficit is there across the world. Although many stakeholders have assured us of providing vaccines from their stocks, nothing is final until we receive those,” he said.
Dr Amin said the vaccine that Oxford has is the vector vaccine and many other organizations have such vaccines.
Also read: 16 more Covid patients die at Rajshahi hospital
“For example, there is a vaccine that comes from the Russian research institute Gamalia Research Institute, another from the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Cancino, and Johnson & Johnson also has a similar one in the United States. Even if we get such alternative vaccines, it will be possible to solve the problem of the second dose vaccine in the country,” the DGHS spokesperson added.