Public health experts have warned that new Covid omicron sub-variants such as XFG and NB 1.8.1 may trigger a fresh wave of infections in the country.
In response to the rising trend of cases in neighbouring India and a growing domestic positivity rate, the Directorate General of Health Services has sounded the alarm and initiated precautionary measures.
Between June 2 and June 10, the country recorded one Covid-linked death and 54 new cases.
In 24 hours until 8:00am on Tuesday, 13 of 101 tested samples were positive, resulting in a 12.87 per cent positivity rate. Five out of 41 examined samples tested positive in the 24 hours ending 8:00am on June 9, showing a positivity rate of 12.20 per cent.
Amid the spread of the new sub-variants, DGHS has placed requisitions for one lakh RT-PCR kits and five lakh rapid antigen test kits, said Halimur Rashid, the line director of the DGHS鈥檚 communicable disease control wing.
He told 抖阴精品 on Tuesday that the Central Medical Stores Depot and development partners, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the World Health Organization, were requested to supply the testing kits.
鈥榃e are expecting a few of the kits to arrive next week with the help from development partners,鈥� Halimur said, adding that delays in public procurement procedures may slow CMSD鈥檚 delivery.
Besides, DGHS has directed hospitals including former Covid treatment centres at district and divisional headquarters and medical college hospitals to prepare for handling increased patient loads.
鈥楴o significant progress has been reported yet, but instructions have been issued,鈥� Halimur said.
As of June 10, Bangladesh鈥檚 cumulative caseload stood at 2,051,760, with 29,500 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, according to DGHS.
Public health expert Mushtuq Husain, a former principal scientific officer at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, voiced concern over the recent spread of Covid sub-variants which are considered as 鈥榮uper spreaders鈥�.
鈥楻ight now, the sub-variants are not as severe as the previous versions. But widespread infection among a large population may have serious consequences,鈥� he warned.
Mushtuq urged people to get vaccinated to reduce the risk of severe illness.
According to DGHS, 1,716,900 doses of Pfizer vaccines have been distributed to all districts. However, the vaccines will expire on August 6.
DGHS鈥檚 Expanded Programme on Immunization programme director Abul Fazal Md Shahabuddin Khan on Tuesday confirmed that an additional stock of about 15 lakh doses of vaccine remained in storage.
The Covid vaccines available in Bangladesh can prevent severe outcomes, said Nizam Uddin Ahmed, the chair of the global vaccine alliance, GAVI, CSO steering committee in Bangladesh.
He warned that the current vaccine stock was insufficient to handle a new Covid outbreak.
He expressed hope that the proposed Tk 1,000 crore allocation for the EPI in the FY25鈥�26 budget would enable fresh procurement.
However, EPI鈥檚 Shahabuddin said that new vaccine requests would be made only after finishing the existing supply at grassroots levels.
鈥榃e are urging people to take the available vaccines,鈥� Shahabuddin said.
According to a letter issued on April 22, the EPI urged persons aged 18 years and above, those who have not been previously vaccinated, health service providers in direct contact with Covid patients and pregnant women to take one dose of Covid vaccine as per their physician鈥檚 advice. Moreover, previously vaccinated people aged 60 and above, or those suffering from chronic disease were also requested to take a booster.聽聽
In light of the emerging variants, the DGHS on Monday issued a travel advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to India and other countries experiencing a surge in infections.
Metro rail and railway authorities have also asked passengers to wear masks, especially during post-Eid travel.
