An increase in the number of asymptomatic cases is the latest issue to alarm the authorities in the fight against coronavirus in Bangladesh.
With accelerating tests across the country, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has started to note the occurrence of asymptomatic cases.
However, the percentage of asymptomatic cases is still below the danger level.
Dr Shah Monir Hossain, former director general of Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS), said: “An asymptomatic case is when a person carries a virus without showing symptoms.
“In a case when the person does not know that he or she is infected, it can potentially expedite coronavirus transmission. If the asymptomatic cases remain high it will put the country in jeopardy,” he added.
“Bangladesh has already noticed asymptomatic cases but it is at a very nominal level now,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
Professor Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of IEDCR, said: “We are looking into the matter as we came to know about a few asymptomatic cases.
“We are yet to segregate the number of asymptomatic cases but will analyze it as soon as possible,” she told Dhaka Tribune.
According to Narsingdi, Kishoreganj, and Gazipur Civil Surgeon Office, some officials tested positive despite having no symptoms.
Their samples were sent to the lab for testing as they were working at different healthcare centres under the districts.
“We will especially investigate the data of Narsingdi ,and Kishoreganj districts to seek out asymptomatic cases,” said Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora on Monday.
According to experts, asymptomatic cases can only be found by tracing the contacts of people who have tested positive.
Will the government change the sample collection strategy if the asymptomatic cases keep increasing?
Professor Shah Monir Hossain, also a member of the coronavirus expert committee of the government, told Dhaka Tribune: “The government has been planning to increase tests with rapid sample collection. But we are yet to gain the capacity for rapid testing.
“Coronavirus-related technical committees have also emphasized on testing antibodies for screening out the coronavirus on a large scale,” he added.
Since the coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh, the authorities have mostly been testing only those who have symptoms and have not used antibody testing.
However, if asymptomatic cases increase in Bangladesh, then testing will need to be expanded even further, and there may be no option but to go for antibody tests in addition to the traditional PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test being conducted now.
