Measles outbreak: Death toll climbs to 661 with four new fatalities
Four more children have died with measles-like symptoms in the last 24 hours, raising the combined number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths in Bangladesh to 661, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). A DGHS update issued today said all four latest fatalities were classified as suspected measles deaths. With the latest figures, the number of...
Japan researchers develop rapid test for deadly tick-borne virus
Researchers at the University of Osaka are developing a rapid diagnostic kit for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a deadly tick-borne viral disease that a project leader warned could spread nationwide in Japan. The study, being carried out in collaboration with Fujita Health University and the University of Miyazaki, aims to create a test kit capable of delivering same-day...
Ebola cases in DRC climb to 710 as death toll reaches 149
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has increased to 710, including 149 deaths, government data showed. The number represented the total number of confirmed cases as of Friday, according to a situation report that documented 21 new cases in the previous 24 hours. More than 100 people have died from Ebola less than a month after authorities declared an...
Ad-Din licence cancelled over six newborn deaths
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has cancelled the licence of Ad-Din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka’s Moghbazar over the deaths of six newborns last month. DGHS Director General Prof Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas announced the decision at a press briefing at the directorate’s conference room on Thursday (June 11). The hospital has also been instructed to transfer...
8 die with measles symptoms in 24 hours
Bangladesh recorded 945 new suspected measles cases and eight deaths among suspected patients in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning (June 10), according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). A DGHS bulletin said 94 measles cases were confirmed between 8am on Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday. No confirmed measles deaths were reported during the period. Since March 15, the number...
Bangladesh reports eight more measles-linked child deaths
Eight more children died in the 24 hours to Monday morning, including seven with measles-related symptoms and one from a confirmed measles infection, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The latest figures come as Bangladesh continues to grapple with a worsening measles outbreak nationwide. The DGHS reported 1,092 new suspected measles cases and 93 newly confirmed...
Bangladesh exports medicines to 140 countries: minister
Bangladesh currently exports pharmaceutical products to 140 countries, health minister Sardar Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain said on Monday (June 8), highlighting the growing global reach of the country's drug industry. He made the remarks at a press conference at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Secretariat, held to mark the handover of 1,00,000 units of intravenous (IV) saline by...
Dengue now a national challenge, says health minister
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain has said dengue has moved beyond being a routine disease and has become a major national challenge for Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Sunday (June 7) while speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of a national Training of Trainers programme on dengue clinical management held at the Shahid Dr. Milon Hall of Bangladesh...
Homes to be fined if mosquito larvae found: Minister
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said mobile courts will be conducted in different areas of the capital to prevent dengue, and fines will be imposed if stagnant water or mosquito larvae are found in homes. He made the remarks on Saturday (June 6) morning while inaugurating a three-month special campaign of Dhaka South City Corporation to prevent dengue at...
4 more die of measles and measles-like symptoms in 24hrs
Four more children have died from measles and measles-like symptoms across the country in the past 24 hours, while the total number of infected patients has reached 1,205, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). In a press release issued by the DGHS Control Room on Wednesday, it said 1,136 new suspected measles cases were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the...
7 more children die in 24hrs as Bangladesh measles toll hits 601
The death toll from confirmed and suspected measles cases in Bangladesh has crossed 600, after seven more children died in the last 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). In its regular measles bulletin issued on Wednesday, the DGHS said the total number of deaths since March 15 has risen to 601. Of the total fatalities, 90 children died from confirmed...
Graft, neglect held back health sector for 17 years: Minister
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said there has been no significant development in the country’s health sector because of corruption and neglect over the past 17 years. The government wants to move out of that cycle of corruption and build a transparent and accountable healthcare system, he told a press conference at the Health Ministry conference room at the...
6 die with measles symptoms; 1,292 suspected cases in 24hr
Bangladesh recorded 1,292 new suspected measles cases and six more deaths with measles symptoms in the past 24 hours, health authorities said on Tuesday. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 42 confirmed measles cases were reported between 8am Monday and 8am Tuesday. No confirmed measles death was recorded during the period. Since March 15, the total number of...
Govt to train doctors, launch drives to tackle dengue
The government has announced nationwide training for doctors, special facilities for dengue patients at private hospitals and stricter drives to destroy mosquito breeding grounds. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said public and private healthcare providers must work together to improve dengue treatment and manage patient pressure. He made the remarks on Tuesday...
Ebola recoveries signal hope amid fresh cases
Four nurses who were being treated for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus have been discharged from a hospital in Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo after recovering from the disease, the World Health Organization said on Sunday. More recoveries are expected, especially when people are diagnosed early and able to access care, and as the response to the outbreak...
Probe report on six newborn deaths by June 3: Health minister
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said the investigation report into the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital in the capital’s Moghbazar area will be submitted by June 3. He made the remarks on Monday (June 1), while speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on the first working day after the Eid holidays. The health minister said the...
Health minister regrets attack on journalists at Ad-Din Hospital
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has expressed concern over allegations that journalists were attacked while collecting news at Ad-Din Hospital in the capital’s Moghbazar area. He said journalists have the right to gather information and that obstructing them or behaving discourteously with them is not acceptable under any circumstances. The minister made the...
Daily pill nearly doubles survival for pancreatic cancer patients
A once-daily pill has been found to nearly double survival time for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, in a trial experts have described as a major breakthrough. The drug, called daraxonrasib, targets mutated RAS proteins, including KRAS mutations that drive the growth of most pancreatic cancers. In a phase 3 trial involving 500 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, those given...
Australian researchers teach brain cells to play ‘Doom’
Australian researchers have trained lab-grown brain cells on a silicon computer chip to play the nineties shooter “Doom” and say they are just scratching the surface of what the neurons could be capable of doing. It’s the science-fiction work of biotech boffins at Cortical Labs, who researched and developed the technology that harnesses the workings of the brain’s networking system....
