The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has reported 11 cases of Zika virus and 67 cases of Chikungunya across Bangladesh, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Director General of DGHS Prof Dr Md Abu Jafar shared this information during a press conference at the DGHS office in Mohakhali on Monday.
Most of the identified patients reside in Dhaka, he said.
“The cases of Zika and Chikungunya were detected during efforts to identify dengue infections. While these viruses have a low mortality rate, there is no need for panic,” he added.
Private hospitals have also reported an uptick in Chikungunya cases this year.
A private hospital treated 314 Chikungunya patients in the first 27 days of November. Specialist doctors noted an increase in patients presenting with Chikungunya symptoms in outpatient consultations.
According to DGHS data, 92,351 dengue patients have been hospitalized across Bangladesh as of December 1 this year, with 494 deaths reported.