United News of Bangladesh

Two people tested positive for the Zika virus in a primary test on Tuesday for the first time in Chattogram. The two patients -- a man and a woman, both aged 42 -- underwent blood tests at a private lab that indicated the presence of the virus. Dr Mohammad Towhidul Anwar, deputy civil surgeon of Chattogram, said that the male patient showed symptoms such as fever, body aches and skin rashes while the female patient experienced fever, joint pain and swelling. "The initial test was conducted using a combined diagnostic kit that can detect multiple viruses," Dr Anwar said. "Therefore, additional confirmatory tests are necessary," he added. Experts highlight the importance of timely pediatric immunization in Ctg The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has been informed and further actions will depend on its guidelines and final test results, he added. Dr Jahangir Alam, civil surgeon of Chattogram, said that the cases were detected at Epic Healthcare, a private diagnostic lab in the city. “We have already collected detailed information about the patients and will begin providing medical care and take necessary precautions starting Tuesday,” he said. Zika virus was first detected in Bangladesh in 2014.

Bangladesh recorded one more death and eight new Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Since January this year, the virus has claimed 25 lives and infected 651 people in the country. Heatstroke Center opened at DNCC Dedicated Covid Mohakhali Hospital During the latest reporting period, 234 samples were tested in 24 hours, with a daily positivity rate of 3.42 per cent. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the country’s total death toll has reached 29,524 with 20,52,196 confirmed cases.

Three more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, raising the death toll from the mosquito-borne disease to 51 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). During the same period, 425 new patients were hospitalised with dengue, bringing the total number of infections to 13,188 since January. Of the latest fatalities, two were reported in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and one in Khulna Division (outside city corporation areas). China donates dengue prevention materials to Bangladesh The fresh cases were detected as follows: 120 in Barishal, 98 in Chattogram, 36 in Dhaka Division (outside city areas), 38 in DNCC, 55 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 18 in Khulna, 11 in Mymensingh, 48 in Rajshahi, and one in Sylhet. Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people.

As part of its AdSEARCH dissemination series, icddr,b held a scientific seminar on Monday at the Sasakawa Auditorium in Mohakhali, where it shared results from the Nutri-CAP study. According to the press release of ICDDRB, it’s conducted in the Bauniabadh slum of Dhaka, the study offers compelling evidence that a locally led and integrated nutrition and hygiene programme can significantly improve the health and well-being of pregnant women, adolescent girls, and young children living in Bangladesh’s informal urban settlements. Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in health over the past two decades. Yet rapid urbanisation—rising from 8 percent in 1973 to 40 percent in 2022—has introduced new challenges. With 62 million people now living in urban areas, and projections indicating this number could double by 2035, pressure is mounting on already strained urban health systems. While average health outcomes tend to be better in cities than in rural areas, stark disparities persist within urban populations. In slum communities, food insecurity affects more than half of all households, and up to 50 percent of children are stunted. Only 40 percent of women in slums receive the recommended four or more antenatal check-ups with trained providers, compared to over 53 percent in non-slum areas. Slums are also disproportionately young—more than 30 percent of residents are under 15 years of age—underscoring the need for focused investments in maternal, adolescent, and child health. Bauniabadh reflects many of the challenges faced by Bangladesh’s urban poor. Among more than 15,000 married women living in the area, 721 were identified as pregnant during the study period. Alongside them, the programme engaged over 4,200 adolescent girls and nearly 2,500 children under the age of two. The study reached 16,532 households in total, with a focused analysis conducted on 2,826 households between November 2021 and February 2022. Despite some indicators of relative stability, hardship remained widespread. The median household income was 21,000 BDT, but nearly one in four families reported distress financing for food, and among food-insecure households, over 91 percent had taken loans. While 47 percent of households were categorised as upper-income within the slum context, 13.5 percent fell into the lower-income group. Overcrowding was common, with 39 percent of households having more than three people per sleeping room. Women contributed to household incomes in 42 percent of families, and just over a third of household heads had completed primary education. The Nutri-CAP intervention focused on three vulnerable groups—pregnant women, adolescent girls, and children under two—and introduced a package of integrated services. Pregnant women received monthly home-based counselling, nutritional supplements including iron, folic acid, calcium, and vitamin D, and regular monitoring of weight, blood pressure, haemoglobin, and blood sugar. They were also encouraged to attend antenatal care visits and rest adequately. These efforts led to measurable improvements. Women in the intervention group gained an average of 8.9 kilogrammes during pregnancy, compared to 7.5 in the comparison group, and were significantly more likely to reach optimal weight gain. Facility-based deliveries and good pregnancy outcomes were more common in the intervention group, while adverse outcomes such as abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal death were lower. The risk of babies being born small-for-gestational-age was reduced by 16 percent. Adolescent girls in the intervention group saw a substantial increase in haemoglobin levels, rising from 12.0 to 12.8 g/dL, compared to a smaller gain in the comparison group. While dietary diversity remained unchanged—possibly due to rising food prices—the girls reported better awareness of health and nutrition issues. Prevalence of thinness among this group was 14.9 percent, with overweight at 12.6 percent, figures that align with national urban trends. For young children, the study recorded significant improvements in growth. Adjusted analysis found a meaningful reduction in growth faltering in terms of height-for age and weight-for-age in the intervention group. Improvements in gut health were also observed. Biological markers indicated lower intestinal inflammation and more responsive immune activity among adolescents in the intervention arm. China donates dengue prevention materials to Bangladesh The programme also brought economic benefits. Out-of-pocket health expenditure was consistently lower among intervention households, especially for pregnant women and children. While indirect costs such as time spent accessing services were slightly higher, total healthcare spending was lower compared to the control group. Medicines and diagnostic costs were reduced, and although human resources remained the largest component of provider costs, the study found that these could be optimised over time as the model is integrated into existing systems. Speaking at the seminar, Dr Mustafa Mahfuz, principal investigator of the study, explained that the programme’s success stemmed from its locally rooted approach. “This model worked because it listened to the community, trained local women, and addressed multiple barriers at once,” he said. “The results are a testament to what is possible when evidence meets empathy.” Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, executive director at icddr,b said in his remark that, “Slum dwellers are underserved when it comes to primary healthcare. With its adaptable and locally driven design, the Nutri-CAP model is not only effective but ready to scale in other informal settlements in Bangladesh and similar settings elsewhere.” The dissemination seminar opened with a welcome address by Dr Thaddaeus David May, senior director of the Nutrition Research Division at icddr,b. A representative from Global Affairs Canada shared reflections on Canada’s commitment to supporting community-based nutrition programmes. Dr Shams El Arifeen, Project Director of AdSEARCH and Senior Scientist at icddr,b, closed the event by highlighting opportunities for scale-up and partnerships. Mr Edward Cabrera, first secretary – Development (Health), Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada, said, "By better understanding the crucial nutrition challenges impacting adolescent children and pregnant women among persons living in underprivileged neighborhoods in urban areas, this project will be able to provide concrete evidence on effective interventions that can lead to better decision-making at the policy level." The seminar was attended by a wide range of stakeholders including government officials, development partners, NGOs, and researchers.

One more death were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 44 this year. During the period, 416 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, raising the total infected-case to 11,098 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). 19 dengue deaths, 5951 cases recorded in June alone  Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people. In 2023, 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries in the same year.

The Chinese government has donated dengue prevention materials to help Bangladesh deal with the dengue cases effectively. The dengue prevention materials will be handed over to the government of Bangladesh on Thursday morning, said an official. The programme will be held at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Prof Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh Dr Liu Yuyin and Director General of DGHS Prof Dr Md Abu Jafor are scheduled to join the handing over ceremony. Dengue: 5 die, 159 new cases reported in 24hrs Bangladesh witnessed 19 deaths and 5,951 dengue cases in June as the mosquito-borne disease continues to spread rapidly across the country with the onset of the monsoon, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The number of dengue cases in June marks a significant rise compared to May, when 1,773 infections and three deaths were reported, the DGHS said.

A total of 13 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours till Sunday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). With the latest figure, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country has risen to 20, 52,093. No new deaths from the virus were reported in the last 24 hours, keeping the total fatalities in the country unchanged at 29,521. Covid-19: One more death, 10 new cases reported in 24hrs A total of 584 samples were tested during the latest reporting period [between 8am Saturday and 8am Sunday], resulting in a daily positivity rate of 4.22 per cent. The overall positivity rate stands at 13.04 per cent till now, while the fatality rate based on detected cases remains at 1.44 per cent.

Bangladesh reported two more deaths and 7 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). With the latest figures, the death toll has risen to 29,521 and total number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 20,52,080. Covid-19: Five more deaths, 36 new cases reported in 24hrs A total of 535 samples were tested during the latest reporting period of 24 hours, resulting in a daily positivity rate of 3.87 per cent. The overall positivity rate stands at 13.04 per cent till now, while the fatality rate based on detected cases remains at 1.44 per cent.

One more death were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Saturday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 41 this year. During the period, 262 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, raising the total infected-case to 9,484 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). 394 fresh dengue cases reported in 24hrs: DGHS Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people. In 2023, 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries in the same year.

Two more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Friday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 40 this year. During the period, 159 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, raising the total infected-case to 9,222 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Dengue claims 2 more lives; 392 hospitalised in 24hrs Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people. In 2023, 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries in the same year.