Handling Nipah syndrome

Viruses are no respecters of borders and whenever a new syndrome appears we have no option but to fall back on outside help. This exposes our glaring incapacity to detect or follow the course of the epidemic, far less provide treatment and advise for the control and management of the epidemic.

While the recent cases were reported since early this month it was only the other day that the five deaths in Tangail were confirmed to have been caused by Nipah virus; reportedly, the same virus caused 18 deaths in Faridpur last year. This brings out several features of our epidemiological investigations capacity and disease control.

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Investigations were not as quick as it might have been in this case, had we the necessary capacity in place. Time is the essence when it comes to arresting the spread of a virus. Any lacunae or inordinate delay in the investigation will result in the disease becoming an epidemic and make all the difference between life and death.

This brings out the need for enhancing our capacity in not only investigating a new virus but also acquiring a research capacity that would provide advisories for management and control of such diseases. Regrettably, reports appearing in the press about the condition of the only research lab in Bangladesh established for the very purpose on which we are dilating make dismal reading. What is one to make of a situation where the one and only laboratory dealing with epidemic research is without its chief scientific officer and seven of its branches have been without their heads for years making them virtually non-functional?

Admittedly, we have the basic expertise and knowledge, what is lacking is the technological support base. The sooner are the necessary inputs invested in our epidemiological research the better will we be equipped to prevent deaths from epidemics.