By The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has identified the first-ever cluster of Zika virus in the country. According to a report published on March 3, samples collected in 2023 from Dhaka revealed that five individuals within a one-kilometer radius were infected. These individuals had no history of international travel in the past two years, indicating local transmission. Scientists used genome sequencing and comparative analysis, confirming the strain belongs to the Asian lineage. Among the five cases, one individual was also infected with the dengue virus, which increases the risk of severe neurological conditions like microcephaly. Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease, can cause severe birth defects and neurological disorders. This discovery highlights the need for increased surveillance and preventive measures to control its spread in Bangladesh.
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Source : Jamuna tv
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