Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed said on Saturday that his institution is fully equipped to control any crisis created by global health hazard Monkeypox. The VC said this at a press briefing held at the Shaheed Dr. Milton hall of the university. Sharfuddin said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has termed Monkeypox as an identifiable and expansionary disease. “Around 17,000 people have been identified with Monkeypox worldwide till now. Although no Monkeypox case has been detected in Bangladesh yet, we’re being alerted about it. We’ll be able to tackle this disease if the countrymen avoid rumors and false alarms,” Sharfuddin said. Sharfuddin added that the Prime Minister will inaugurate the country’s first super specialized hospital built under the supervision of BSMMU on August 28. “This hospital is also a milestone for the government like the Padma Bridge. We’ll ensure that every patient can avail treatment at this hospital,” Sharfuddin added. Read: BSMMU VC warns against excessive use of antibiotics The VC also provided details about Monkeypox at the press briefing. “Monkeypox is a DNA virus. A person contracts this virus by direct communication with a carrier of this virus or eating insufficiently cooked meat of an animal containing the virus. This virus can also be contracted from droplets of breathing. Around 26 percent people infected with Monkeypox are also identified with HIV virus and 90 percent patient infected with this virus is aged below 15 years,” said Sharfuddin. Those infected with Monkeypox have to be treated in quarantine, said the VC.   BSMMU Pro-VC Prof Dr Saif Uddin Ahmed, Treasurer Prof Dr Mohammad Atiqur Rahman, Dean Prof Dr Debabrata Banik, among others, were present at the briefing.

No Monkeypox cases have been detected in Bangladesh so far, said Prof Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). “We have taken all necessary preparations to provide treatment for Monkeypox virus although we have not yet found any patient infected with the virus in the country,” he said. Also read: Monkeypox: Govt orders screening passengers at all airports, land ports Ther BSMMU VC revealed the information while talking at a press briefing held at Shaheed Dr Milton Hall on Tuesday. He also urged people to not to be  panicked hearing any  rumour. Prof. Sharfuddin said Monkeypox cases have been  reported recently in 14 countries including the UK, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Australia and Canada. Already, the health authorities have alerted all land ports and airports to prevent spread of the virus, he said. Monkeypox is a DNA virus. It is believed that it can be transmitted if people came in contact with infected animals or take inadequately cooked meat, said the BSMMU VC. The symptoms of the virus are Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), cold, fever, perspiration, headache, backache, loss of appetite, breathing problem and cough, he said. Also read: New Monkeypox Outbreak: What We Know So Far BSMMU VC also advised  people to refrain from getting close to infected or suspected animals. But if anyone found infected he/she should stay in isolation until their lesions have crusted. Referring to the Facebook post over detection of first Monkeypox case at BSMMU that went viral, Prof. Sharfuddin said assistance was sought from the Cyber Crime Investigation Division of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit of police verbally to  identify those involved in spreading the rumour.

Bangladesh will face greater health crisis than that of Covid-19 due to antibiotics resistance by 2050, warned Prof Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Monday. The number of death caused by excessive use of antibiotics may be more than double of the Covid-19 fatalities by 2050, he told reporters after a meeting with a Japanese delegation here. Read: CEC vows to win public trust about the body He said steps must be taken to prevent pharmacies from selling antibiotics without prescriptions from registered doctors. Earlier, in the day, a delegation of teachers from Yokohama National University and representatives from two Japanese industrial companies met the VC at his office on Monday.  

The High Court on Sunday asked Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice Chancellor to submit a report on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s  health condition by 5 pm on Wednesday and fixed  February 27 for hearing on her bail petition in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.