Bangladesh: Suspicious Deaths Investigated

# 456

Normally, a few deaths in a remote area of the world isn't enough to attract the attention of news media. This week, however, we've seen two news articles out of Bangladesh, refering to an investigation of some mysterious deaths by a medical team, which reportedly includes two `bird flu experts'.

The list of nasty pathogens in that part of the world is a lengthy one, and so this could be almost anything. Something, however, must be causing the local authorities to take a closer look.

Couple dies of mysterious disease

2/12/2007

THAKURGAON, Feb 11 (UNB): A couple died of an unknown disease and three others were afflicted with the infectious disease in the last 19 days since January 23 at Belua village in Haripur Upazila.

Local sources said Ziaur Rahman (32) of the village was attacked by the mysterious disease on January 23 morning. He was admitted to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital with high fever and other complications. He died there on January 26.

Ziaur's wife Parul (28), also fell sick on Feb 7 and was admitted to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital with same symptoms. Parul died at the hospital Saturday noon.

Meanwhile Parul's sister Shefali (25), one Lal Mohammad (35), and driver Mizanur, 30, who carried Parul to the hospital, were also contacted the same disease on Feb 8.

Of them Shefali was admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Lal Mohammad to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital and Mizanur to Haripur Health Complex.

However, Haripur Health Complex doctors could not give any idea about the disease. The local people are highly concerned by the deaths caused by the mysterious disease.

This report was followed up by the following in The News Today:

Mysterious disease claims three

THAKURGAON, Feb 14: Another young man died of the mysterious disease at Dinajpur Medical College Hospital on Monday raising the death to three in Haripur upazila of the district, reports UNB.

The latest victim was identified as Lal Mohammad, 35, resident of Beloa village in Haripur.Earlier, two others - Ziaur Rahman and his wife Parul Begum - died of the disease at the same village.

Death of three people heightened the apprehension of outbreak of bird flu at the bordering villages, including Beloa as poultry birds from India are being smuggled into the country through the border villages.

Meanwhile, a five-mem-ber medical team comprising the bird flu specialists of health department, Dhaka, who arrived here is working at Beloa village to unearth the cause and nature of the disease.

Civil Surgeon Shahadat Hossain was also staying in the village with a local medical team, sources said.

According to the CIA Factbook, Major Infectious Diseases in Bangladesh include:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies

note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)

Another area, and story, to watch.