NN Online:
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has urged Bangladeshi citizens to avoid non-essential travel to India and other countries currently experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases.
This advisory comes in light of the rapid spread of several new coronavirus subvariants, particularly in neighboring India. A notice issued Monday and signed by Prof. Dr. Halimur Rashid, Director of DGHS’s Communicable Disease Control (CDC) wing, cited rising detections of Omicron subvariants LF.7, XFG, JN-1, and NB.1.8.1 in the region.
The DGHS has stressed the need for strict surveillance at all land, sea, and air entry points to prevent a potential outbreak in Bangladesh. Screening at IHR (International Health Regulations) desks must be intensified, especially for travelers from high-risk countries.
Nationwide precautionary measures have also been recommended, including:
Frequent handwashing (at least 23 seconds)
Wearing masks in public
Maintaining a three-foot distance from sick individuals
Avoiding touching the face with unclean hands
Covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Port authorities have been instructed to use thermal scanners or non-contact digital thermometers to check passenger temperatures. The DGHS has also advised stocking up on masks, gloves, and PPE for healthcare personnel and initiating public awareness campaigns to promote infection prevention.
This renewed caution follows the death of a Covid-19 patient in Bangladesh last Thursday. While the situation is not yet deemed critical, icddr,b researchers have confirmed the presence of subvariants XFG and XFC—both part of the highly transmissible JN-1 lineage—within the country.
For suspected cases, individuals with mild symptoms are advised to stay home, while those with severe symptoms should seek hospital care. Suspected patients should wear masks and may contact the IEDCR hotline at 01401-196293 for urgent assistance.
The DGHS reiterates: avoid travel to India and other affected countries unless absolutely necessary.
