More than 100 people out of a little over 175 African and Bangladeshi citizens arriving in Dhaka from Ebola-affected countries in the recent past have successfully passed the 21-day observation period as none of them was found to be carrying Ebola symptoms.
Of the 175, officials said 100 were Africans and the rest were Bangladeshi nationals. Five more people arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Ebola-hit countries yesterday.
Professor Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, member secretary of the national Ebola monitoring cell, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday evening all the necessary precautionary measures had been taken to tackle any unwanted situation that might arise.
“There is nothing to be panicked about this,” he said.
The Health Ministry has decided to buy seven thermal scanners to install at airports. The primary decision was to purchase only two but there was a change in the plan later.
A top ministry official said of the seven devices, three would be set up at Dhaka airport, one at Chittagong airport, and one at Sylhet airport. The remaining two would be stored.
No certain date to buy the scanners, however, has yet been announced.
Health officials had to contact foreign firms to inquire about the price of the device as there is no local agent that sells it. It was said they received several rates with large differences.
Be-Nazir said several small scanners had already been installed at airports to detect temperature. Fresh World Health Organisation figures showed yesterday that more than 4,500 people died in Ebola outbreak that was first reported in West Africa in March this year.
