Dhaka has reported scores of COVID-19 cases traced to the BA.5 Omicron sub-variant, which appears to be more infectious than the past versions of the virus, extending the current Covid surge. International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) on Tuesday told about the rapid spread of BA.5 Omicron subvariant cases. During the last six weeks (May 14 to June 24 this year), this subvariant became the most predominant. During this period, 51 out of 52 covid cases were identified as BA.5 subvariant and one BA.2 by using complete genome sequencing, according to icddr,b. Read: Social distancing norms flouted at Kamalapur railway station amid Covid surge SARS-CoV-2 variants are outcompeted one by another over time, which underscores the continuation of variant surveillance for a regular update on the emergence of new variants, states the icddr,b report. A study, conducted on 40 Omicron BA.5 infected patients, found that 38 patients had received at least one dose vaccine. Among them, 16 had received booster doses of vaccines, 21 had two doses, and one had received only one dose. Besides, 39 patients had mild to moderate symptoms, and one had no symptoms. And only one was hospitalised for a day which means the severity of this subvariant is low. The researchers also urged everyone to practice all precautions to keep safe from COVID-19 as well as to get vaccinated against the virus who are not vaccinated yet. Read:Bangladesh reports 7 Covid deaths, positivity rate now 16.74% The first suspected Omicron subvariant BA.5 in Dhaka was detected on May 19. The Omicron variant in Bangladesh was first identified on December 6 last year. Meanwhile, Bangladesh registered seven more Covid-linked deaths with 1,998 cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning amid rapid surge in new infections. The fresh numbers took the country's total caseload to 1,982,972 and the total fatalities to 29,182, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case positivity rate rose to 16.74 per cent from Monday’s 16.51 per cent as 11,882 samples were tested during the period, said the DGHS.

Diarrhea outbreak has turned severe in the country as the arrival of patients continues at icddr’b and different government hospitals of the country.  The number of diarrhoea patients usually rise in the pre- monsoon or pre-winter periods, but this year the number of cases is higher during summer, said AKM Tariful Islam Khan, public relations officer of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). Read: Diarrhoea hospitalisations continue to rise in Dhaka, other districts A total of 16,177 diarrhoea patients received treatment at icddr’b in the last 15 days. As many as 769 patients received treatment for the water-borne disease till 2 pm on Tuesday while 1334 patients received treatment on March 28 (Monday), the highest number in the past 15 days, Tariful told UNB. As many as 1230 patients were hospitalised on March 27, he said.  The patients are being discharged from the hospital once they become stable, he said. UNB Bagerhat correspondent reports: Currently 18 diarrhea patients are undergoing treatment at Bagerhat district hospital, said Supervisor of 250-bed Bagerhat Hospital Dr. Ashim Kumar Samaddar. Of the total patients, ten were children while eight others were adult. However, health experts blamed weather for the sharp rise in diarrhea patients. They also urged people to wash their hands properly before taking food and drink pure water. Our Chuadanga correspondent adds: a total of 97 patients with diarrhea were admitted to Sadar hospital in the last three days. Read:Canadian envoy lauds icddr,b’s research works, innovations The patients are scrambling for space as everyday 25-35 patients are being admitted to the hospital, making it difficult for the hospital authorities to provide medical treatment. People were seen taking treatment on floor and veranda of the hospital due to lack of space.

The capital is witnessing a diarrhea outbreak, with 268 people, mostly adults, hospitalised with the disease over an 8-hour period till Sunday 8AM, according to the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). icddr,b also reports as many as 1250 patients received treatment for the disease on Saturday (over 24 hrs), while the number was 1138 on Friday. Read: Canadian envoy lauds icddr,b’s research works, innovations The worst affected areas are Jatrabari, Dakkhin Khan, Badda and Shanir Akhra in the city. This year, over 1200 people have been found infected with the disease. Some 5 percent of those hospitalised in recent days have been found to be children.  The number of diarrhea patients usually rises in the pre- monsoon or pre-winter periods, but this year the number of cases is higher, said AKM Tariful Islam Khan, public relations officer of icddr,b. However, many patients with severe diarrhea are being admitted to icddr,b every day and they got discharged from the hospital after getting stable.  During a recent visit, physicians were found struggling to provide medical treatment to the patients. Recent instances of diarrhea outbreak in Bangladesh occurred in 2018 and 2007,  as over 1200 people were found infected with the virus. Read: icddr,b lab opens sample collection centre in Uttara Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old, and is responsible for killing around 525 000 children every year.  Diarrhea can last several days, leave the body without the water and salts that are necessary for survival.

Bangladeshi scientist Dr Firdausi Qadri has been named for the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for being instrumental "in developing vaccines that have saved millions of lives". The 70-year-old will be formally conferred the award -- the Asian equivalent of the Nobel -- at a ceremony on 28 November 2021, at the Ramon Magsaysay Center in Manila. Read:BINA and scientist Dr Shamsun Nahar receive prestigious IAEA awards Dr Qadri was born to a middle-class family in Bangladesh that encouraged women to pursue an education and a career. She decided to specialise in medical research, earning a degree in biochemistry. Dr Qadri went on to earn a doctorate from Liverpool University in the United Kingdom. Set on working in her homeland, she taught at a local university and in 1988, joined the International Centre For Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), a global health research institute based in Dhaka.