WHO issues highest alert over coronavirus

Health Desk- 01 March, 2020: South Korea reported its biggest surge in new coronavirus cases on Friday as concerns grew of a possible epidemic in the United States and the World Health Organization raised its risk alert to its highest level.

Meanwhile, a patient infected with the virus in Washington died, a state official said, reports CNN. It marks the first death due to the virus in the US.

The virus has rapidly spread across the world in the past week, causing stock markets to sink to their lowest levels since the 2008 global financial crisis over fears that the disease could wreak havoc on the world economy.

More than 2,900 people have died and over 85,000 have been infected worldwide since it was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

The vast majority of infections have been in China but more daily cases are now logged outside the country, with South Korea, Italy and Iran emerging as major hotspots.

South Korea has the most cases outside China, with 3,150 infections as 813 more patients were reported yesterday-- the country's biggest increase to date. Three women in the Daegu area died of the illness yesterday, taking the national toll to 17.

The virus has also spread to new zones in recent days, reaching 10 new countries including Qatar, Azerbaijan, Mexico and New Zealand, as well as reaching sub-Saharan Africa with Nigeria reporting its first case.

"We have now increased our assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to very high at global level," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Friday.

http://amarhealth.com/Spot-Light/4744/WHOissueshighestalertovercoronavirus

Coronavirus outbreak at ‘decisive point’: WHO

Health Desk-29th Feb, 2020: The World Health Organization declared Thursday that the new coronavirus epidemic was at a “decisive point” as countries across the globe battled to contain the deadly outbreak, reports AFP.

Alarm is growing as China is no longer the only breeding ground for COVID-19, with other countries including South Korea and Italy becoming hotbeds of infection, raising fears of a pandemic.

South Korea reported 571 new cases on Friday, taking its total—the highest in the world outside China—to 2,337, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.

That was a larger increase than the 327 reported by China, where nearly 2,800 people have died.

“We’re at a decisive point,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference in Geneva. “If you act aggressively now, you can contain this virus, you can prevent people getting sick, you can save lives.”

The virus has already killed more than 2,760 people, mostly in China—where it first emerged in December—and infected more than 81,000 in over 45 countries.

But there are now more daily cases being recorded outside China, raising fears that poor countries with weak health infrastructures will not be able to cope.

http://amarhealth.com/amar-doctor/4743/CoronavirusoutbreakatdecisivepointWHO

25pc children suffer from heart disease in country

Health Desk-29th Feb, 2020: Twenty five percent children are suffering from heart diseases in the country. Most of them are from poor families.

“You’ll be surprised to know that 25 percent children are suffering from heart disease. Most of them are from poor families,” Brig Gen Dr. Nurun Nahar Begum, head of the department of paediatric cardiology at the Combined Medical Hospital (CMH), said on Friday.

The physician said this at a seminar on ‘Little Heart Project’ organised by the Department of Cardiac Surgery of Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital & Research Institute in the capital on Friday.

Bashundhara Group and Muntada Aid UK are the major partners of the humanitarian project.

“Every day the poor children come to my chamber and I treat them. 

That’s why we have to increase the fund. Government also gives us Tk50,000 per child.

“No hospital or medical centre is interested for treatment of the poor people. When the poor people come to us, we send them to Bashundhara Group and Muntada Aid for help,” said Dr. Mohammad Rokonujjaman Selim, senior consultant at Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital & Research Institute.

http://amarhealth.com/kids-corner/4742/25pcchildrensufferfromheartdiseaseincountry

Call to make disaster resilient cities

Health Desk-27th February, 2020: Speakers at a programme on Wednesday emphasised on taking required measures for making disaster resilient cities to minimise the loss of lives and properties during different disasters like earthquake, fire and water-logging, said a press release.

“It is important to take necessary steps for making disaster resilient cities to minimise the loss of lives and properties during disasters like earthquake, fire and water-logging,” they said.

The speakers made the call at the concluding ceremony of a two-day training titled ‘Developing Resource Pool for Disaster Management’ at Uddipan conference room of Adabar in the capital.

They also underscoring on urban risk assessment.

http://amarhealth.com/country-wide-health/4741/Calltomakedisasterresilientcities

Coronavirus outbreak: 23 Bangladeshis flown to Delhi from Wuhan

Health Desk-27th February, 2020: Twenty-three Bangladeshi more nationals have been evacuated from China’s Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

They were flown to Delhi on Thursday by a special flight with a number of other Indian nationals, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

The Bangladeshi nationals will be quarantined in special facilities in suburbs in Delhi.

More than 80,000 people in about 40 countries have been infected with the new coronavirus which emerged in December. More than 2,700 have died. The vast majority remain in China.

Bangladesh brought back 312 of its nationals from China on February 1 and the remaining Bangladeshis registered to return home.

Earlier, India expressed willingness to take some Bangladeshi students onboard from Wuhan with Indian nationals upon necessary permission.

http://amarhealth.com/Spot-Light/4740/Coronavirusoutbreak23BangladeshisflowntoDelhifromWuhan

Call for concerted efforts to prevent child marriage

Health Desk-26th February, 2020: All the government and non-government entities concerned should put their level best efforts to prevent the child marriage, said speakers at a discussion in Rajshahi on Tuesday, reports BSS.

They viewed substantial and sustainable reduction of child marriage has become an urgent need for ending violence against women and children.

To this end, responsive support from the community, especially religious leaders, marriage-registrars, parents and influential leaders is very important.

The observations came in a view-sharing meeting styled “Prevention of Violence against Women and Child Marriage and Way Forward” at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Rajshahi.

Association for Community Development (ACD) under its ‘Strengthen Civil Society and Public Institution to Address Combating Gender-based Violence’ project organised the meeting discussing ways and means on how to change the social mindset against child marriage.

DC Hamidul Haque addressed the meeting as the chief guest while Charghat upazila chairman Fakhrul Islam and its Upazila Nirbahi Officer Syeda Samira, Deputy Director of Department of Social Services Hasina Momtaj and District Children Affairs Officer Monjur Kader spoke as special guests with ACD Executive Director Salima Sarwar in the chair.

http://amarhealth.com/kids-corner/4739/Callforconcertedeffortstopreventchildmarriage

Stress may lead to surprising social benefits

Health Desk-26th February, 2020: While too much stress can be toxic to your health, a new study suggests that despite its negative side effects, it may also lead to a surprising social benefit.

The research, published in the journal Stress & Health, found that experiencing stress made people both more likely to give and receive emotional support from another person.

This was true on the day they experienced the stressor as well as the following day.

"Our findings suggest that just because we have a bad day, that doesn't mean it has to be completely unhealthy," said study researcher David Almeida from Penn State University in the US.

For the study, the researchers interviewed 1,622 participants every night for eight nights. They asked the participants about their stressors and whether they gave or received emotional support on that day

Stressors included arguments, stressful events at work or school, and stressful events at home.

The researchers found that on average, participants were more than twice as likely to either give or receive emotional support on days they experienced a stressor.

Additionally, they were 26 per cent more likely to give or receive support the following day.

The researchers said that while this effect, on average, was found across the participants, it differed slightly between men and women.

The researchers said they were surprised that stress was linked to people not just receiving emotional support, but giving it, as well.

http://amarhealth.com/health/4738/Stressmayleadtosurprisingsocialbenefits

Bangladesh world’s most polluted country

Health Desk-26th February, 2020: Bangladesh topped the list of the world’s most polluted countries in 2019 for PM2.5 exposure, according to an IQAir AirVisual report.

Besides, Dhaka ranked the 2nd most polluted city for the year as arranged by average annual PM2.5 concentration after New Delhi.

As per the IQAir AirVisual's 2019 World Air Quality Report, Bangladesh had particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) 83.30 μg/m3 on average. The air was categorised as ‘unhealthy’.

Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and India occupied the second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Of them, Pakistan and Mongolia’s air conditions deteriorated while the rest three illustrated slight improvements between the years of 2018 and 2019.

The five countries with best air quality are Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, Iceland, Finland and Estonia with average PM 2.5 of 3.30 μg/m3, 3.53, 5.55, 5.63 and 6.15 μg/m3 respectively.

The 2019 World Air Quality Report is based on data from the world’s largest centralised platform for real-time air quality data, combining efforts from thousands of initiatives run by citizens, communities, companies, non-profit organisations and governments.

It includes only PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) data as acquired from ground-based air quality monitoring stations with high data availability.

To track outdoor air quality, the report focused on the concentrations of two pollutants in particular: fine particle air pollution (particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter, or PM2.5) and ozone found near ground level (tropospheric ozone).

This assessment also tracked exposure to household air pollution from burning fuels such as coal, wood, or biomass for cooking.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Courtesy: UNB

http://amarhealth.com/environment-health/4737/Bangladeshworldsmostpollutedcountry

করোনাভাইরাসে মৃতের সংখ্যা বেড়ে ২৭০১

স্বাস্থ্য ডেস্ক- ২৫ ফেব্রুয়ারি ২০২০: করোনাভাইরাসে মৃতের সংখ্যা বেড়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে ২ হাজার ৭০১ জনে। এখন পর্যন্ত ৩৩টি দেশ ও অঞ্চলে এই ভাইরাসে আক্রান্তের সংখ্যা ৭৯ হাজার ৭৭৩ জন। এর মধ্যে চীনের মূল ভূখণ্ডেই অধিকাংশ মৃত্যুর ঘটনা ঘটেছে। মঙ্গলবার নতুন করে আরও ১০ জনের মৃত্যু হয়েছে।

চীনে এখন পর্যন্ত ২৪ হাজার ৪৫০ জন চিকিৎসা নিয়ে সুস্থ হয়ে বাড়ি ফিরেছে। অপরদিকে করোনাভাইরাসে আক্রান্ত ১২ হাজার ৫২০ জনের অবস্থা আশঙ্কাজনক।

দক্ষিণ কোরিয়ায় নতুন করে ২৩১ জন আক্রান্ত হওয়ার খবর পাওয়া গেছে। এ ছাড়া চীনের মূল ভূখণ্ডের বাইরে ইতালি, ইরান, দক্ষিণ কোরিয়ায় আক্রান্তে সংখ্যা বেড়েছে। ইরানে করোনাভাইরাসে এখন পর্যন্ত ৫০ জনের মৃত্যু হয়েছে বলে জানিয়েছে বেশ কয়েকটি আন্তর্জাতিক গণমাধ্যম।

মঙ্গলবার নতুন করে আরও ১৭ জন করোনায় আক্রান্ত হয়েছে। ফলে এই ভাইরাসে মোট আক্রান্তের সংখ্যা ৪৩। ইরানে আক্রান্তের সংখ্যা বাড়তে থাকায় আতঙ্কে প্রতিবেশী তিন দেশ-আফগানিস্তান, পাকিস্তান এবং তুরস্ক ইরানের সঙ্গে তাদের সীমান্ত বন্ধ করে দিয়েছে।

চীনের পর দক্ষিণ কোরিয়ায় সবচেয়ে বেশি মানুষ প্রাণঘাতী এই ভাইরাসটিতে আক্রান্ত হয়েছেন। সেখানে নতুন করে আরও ১৬১ জন এই ভাইরাসে আক্রান্ত হয়েছেন। এ নিয়ে মোট আক্রান্তের সংখ্যা দাঁড়াল ৭৬৩ জনে।

অপরদিকে, করোনাভাইরাসে আক্রান্ত হয়ে জাপানি প্রমোদতরীর আরও এক যাত্রীর মৃত্যু হয়েছে। দু’সপ্তাহ ধরে ওই প্রমোতরীর যাত্রীদের কোয়ারেন্টাইনে রাখা হয়েছিল। এ নিয়ে ওই প্রমোদতরীর তিন যাত্রীর মৃত্যুর বিষয়টি নিশ্চিত করেছে জাপানের স্বাস্থ্য মন্ত্রণালয়।

Scientists discover powerful antibiotic using AI

Health Desk- 25 February 2020: In a world first, scientists have discovered a new type of antibiotic using artificial intelligence (AI).

It has been heralded by experts as a major breakthrough in the fight against the growing problem of drug resistance.

A powerful algorithm was used to analyse more than one hundred million chemical compounds in a matter of days.

The newly discovered compound was able to kill 35 types of potentially deadly bacteria, said researchers.

Antibiotic-resistant infections have risen in recent years - up 9% in England between 2017 and 2018, to nearly 61,000.

If antibiotics are taken inappropriately, harmful bacteria living inside the body can become resistant to them, which means the medicines may not work when really needed.

Courtesy: BBC Health

http://amarhealth.com/Spot-Light/4736/ScientistsdiscoverpowerfulantibioticusingAI

নতুন কয়েকটি দেশে করোনা আক্রান্ত আতঙ্কের বিষয়: স্বাস্থ্যমন্ত্রী

স্বাস্থ্য ডেস্ক- ২৫ ফেব্রুয়ারি ২০২০: চীনে করোনা আক্রান্ত রোগীর সংখ্যা কমে আসলেও মধ্যপ্রাচ্যসহ নতুন কয়েকটি দেশে করোনা ভাইরাস ছড়িয়ে পড়ায় কিছুটা আতঙ্কের বিষয় বলে মন্তব্য করেছেন স্বাস্থ্যমন্ত্রী জাহিদ মালেক। মঙ্গলবার দুপুরে সচিবালয়ে স্বাস্থ্যমন্ত্রী জাহিদ মালেকের কাছে পাঁচশত করোনাভাইরাস শনাক্তকরণ কিট হস্তান্তর করে চীনা রাষ্ট্রদূত লি জিমিং। এ সময় স্বাস্থ্যমন্ত্রী একথা বলেন।

জাহিদ মালেক বলেন, ইতোমধ্যেই ৩ লাখ মানুষের পরীক্ষা করা হয়েছে। এরমধ্যে কাউকে করোনা আক্রান্ত হিসেবে চিহ্নিত করা যায়নি। এ সময় স্বাস্থ্য সচিবও উপস্থিত ছিলেন।

তবে বাংলাদেশের সব হাসপাতালে করোনা রোগী সনাক্ত করার যথেষ্ঠ প্রস্তুতি রয়েছে, কারো ফ্লু হলেই সাথে সাথেই খবর পাওয়া যাচ্ছে। রোগে আক্রান্ত হলেও চিকিৎসার ব্যবস্থাও রাখা হয়েছে।

Bangladesh succeeds in women, child dev

Health Desk- 25 Feb, 2020: Bangladesh has made remarkable success in women and child development alongside making headway in the areas of health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene and education, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019.

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) unveiled the findings of the survey on Monday.

The survey was jointly conducted by BBS and UNICEF, Bangladesh.

A major development the country witnessed is sharp decline in chronic malnutrition among under-five children. Malnutrition came down to 28 percent in 2019 which was as high as 42 percent in 2013.

The number of underweight children also dropped to 22.6 percent from 31.9 percent, say the findings.

Mortality rate of under-five children also fell to 40 percent from 58 percent while infant mortality rate dropped to 34 percent from 46 percent during the last six years.

Literacy rate among women, aged between 15 to 24 years whie the rate of  women attending secondary or higher education rose to 88.7 percent in 2019 which was 82 percent in 2013.

Primary school completion rate among children improved to 82.6 percent from 79.5 percent .

New indicators — lower secondary school and upper secondary school completion rates — were found to be 64.7 percent and 29.4 percent respectively.

Households’ access to electricity rose to as high as 92.2 percent which was 61.5 percent six years ago.

The survey was conducted between January 19 and June 01 2019 with random sampling among 61,242 households in 64 districts.

Statistics and Informatics Division (SID) Secretary Saurendra Nath Chakrabhartty, BBS Director General Mohammad Tajul Islam and UNICEF, Bangladesh Officer In-Charge Alain Balandi Domsam, among others, were present at the report launch.

http://amarhealth.com/kids-corner_1/4735/Bangladeshsucceedsinwomenchilddev

Unnecessary panic to cause trouble: IEDCR

Health Desk- 23 Feb, 2020: Pointless panic about the novel coronavirus will hinder efforts to prevent the disease, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

Rumours should not be spread on the issue, IEDCR Director Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora said at a media briefing on Saturday.

Foreign nationals or Bangladesh returnees from abroad are being harassed, she said. “Some overenthusiastic people are creating embarrassing situations. We were informed that house owners are not letting their tenants enter the houses. A Chinese national was not allowed to enter his rented house and had to spend the night in a hotel,” she said.

Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, the director of IEDCR, briefs the media on Tuesday on the health condition of Bangladeshis evacuated from China amid the new coronavirus outbreak.

Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, the director of IEDCR, briefs the media on Tuesday on the health condition of Bangladeshis evacuated from China amid the new coronavirus outbreak.

If someone is really infected with the coronavirus, then keeping them outside will spread the disease furthermore, Flora said.

In Bangladesh, 77 people were checked for coronavirus infections but none of them tested positive, said the IEDCR director.

The conditions of the five Bangladeshi nationals infected with the coronavirus in Singapore remain the same, she said. One of them is in critical condition, but the health authorities still hope for his recovery, she added.

“They’re trying their best. We hope everyone will recover and go home.”

Another Bangladeshi has been infected with the novel coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates, the health ministry of UAE said.

Globally, 77,000 people have been infected with the virus as of Friday while the death toll rose to 2,360.

http://amarhealth.com/amar-doctor/4733/UnnecessarypanictocausetroubleIEDCR

66.4m people at risk of cholera in Bangladesh

Health Desk- 19 Feb, 2020: The health directorate will provide oral vaccinations for cholera in six areas of the capital from February 19 for seven days in a bid to prevent cholera.

Prof. Dr. Shahnila Ferdous, director of the disease control unit of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), made the announcement at a press conference at DGHS office in the city on Tuesday.

“The oral vaccination programme will be implemented in six areas of Dhaka city in the first phase. The programme will be conducted in Mohammadpur, Adabar, Darussalam, Kamrangirchar, Hazaribagh and Lalbagh areas. We have selected the areas in consideration of the risk of cholera. In phases, we will conduct the vaccination programme in other parts of the capital and across the country,” she said.

As per the announcement, the vaccination programme will be implemented in 16 wards of the Dhaka north and south city corporations from February 19 till February 25.

Oral vaccination will be provided from 360 immunization centres from 8:00 am till 4:00 pm every day during the programme. Some immunization centres will remain open till 7:00 pm for working people.

As part of the primary step, 24 lakh oral vaccines for cholera have been collected through Global Taskforce on Cholera Control (GTFCC) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) with the support of UNICEF. The icddr,b will conduct the vaccination programme with the support of Dhaka South and North City Corporations and Extended Programme on Immunisation PI) of Bangladesh.    

“The Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign will be implemented for the people aged 1 year and above. And two dozes of the OCV will be fed with one-month interval. The cholera vaccine named as Euvichol-Plus manufactured by Eubiologics of South Korea is approved by the WHO and safe,” Prof. Dr. Shahnila Ferdousi said.

Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio Cholerae.

According to a report of the icddr,b, 20 per cent diarrhoea patients are infected in cholera in Bangladesh.

An international call for ending the spread of endemic cholera is now being led by a global initiative with a plan to make at least 20 countries free of cholera by the year 2030. Bangladesh is one of these countries.

http://amarhealth.com/kids-corner/4732/664mpeopleatriskofcholerainBangladesh

‘Walking 10,000 steps not enough to prevent weight gain’

Health Desk- 19th Feb, 2020: No amount of walking can prevent weight gain by itself, according to a study which suggests that the widely practised standard of pacing 10,000 steps a day to lose weight may not be solely effective.

Researchers, including those from Brigham Young University in the US, studied 120 college freshmen over their first six months of college as they participated in a step-counting experiment, reports The Indian Express.

According to the study, published in the Journal of Obesity, the participants walked either 10,000, 12,500 or 15,000 steps a day, six days a week for 24 weeks, while the scientists tracked the amount of calories the freshmen consumed and their weight.

The scientists examined if exceeding the recommended count of 10,000 steps per day would minimise weight and fat gain in the college students, the study noted.

According to the study, the students gained weight even if they walked more than even 15,000 steps.

Students in the study gained on average about 1.5 kilogrammes (kg) over the study period, the researchers said.

A one to four kilogramme average weight gain is commonly observed during the first academic year of college, according to earlier studies.

In the 15,000-step group, sedentary time decreased by as much as 77 minutes a day, they said.

 http://amarhealth.com/health/4731/Walking10000stepsnotenoughtopreventweightgain

WHO urges calm as death toll nears 1,900 in China

Health Desk- 19 Feb, 2020: The death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak rose again on Tuesday but Chinese and international health officials sought to calm global nerves, citing a study showing most cases are mild and warning against excessive measures to contain the epidemic, reports AFP.

Nearly 1,900 people have now died and more than 72,000 people have been infected by the virus in China, with hundreds more cases in some 25 countries.

The epidemic has triggered panic-buying in Singapore and Hong Kong, concerns about cruise-ship travel and the postponement of trade fairs, sports competitions and cultural events in China and abroad.

The outbreak is threatening to put a dent in the global economy, with China paralysed by vast quarantine measures and major firms such as iPhone maker Apple and mining giant BHP warning it could damage bottom lines.

Several countries have banned travellers from China and major airlines have suspended flights. The World Health Organization, which has previously said travel restrictions were unnecessary, rejected the suggestion that all cruises should be halted after hundreds of passengers were infected on one vessel off Japan.

“Measures should be taken proportional to the situation. Blanket measures may not help,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva.

The WHO has praised China for taking drastic measures to contain the virus.

Authorities have placed about 56 million people in hard-hit central Hubei under an unprecedented lockdown.

http://amarhealth.com/environment-health/4730/WHOurgescalmasdeathtollnears1900inChina

China to give BD 'most advanced kits' to detect coronavirus

Health Desk- 17 Feb, 2020: China will give 500 sets 'most advanced kits' to Bangladesh to detect coronavirus.

"These are real-time fluorescent RT-PCR kits for detecting the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and are the first such donation to any country from China," Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister (Counsellor) of  Chinese Embassy Yan Hualong said following a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming along with his deputy chief met the foreign minister at his office and made this announcement. However, the kits are expected to arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday.

He said more such kits will be provided if any case is confirmed in Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister Momen said China has been very helpful to Bangladesh throughout the process and recalled the Chinese government's support in bringing back 312 Bangladesh nationals from Wuhan city, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 69,000 people globally and killed over 1,660 people. The virus has spread to more than two dozen countries and affected global trade.

http://amarhealth.com/good-news/4728/ChinatogiveBDmostadvancedkitstodetectcoronavirus

BSMMU holds meeting on new hospital

Health Desk- 17 Feb, 2020: The super specialised hospital project implementation committee of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University held a meeting at Dr Milton Hall on the campus on Sunday.

BSMMU vice-chancellor Kanak Kanti Barua presided over the meeting, said a release.

Pro-vice-chancellors Md Shahidullah Sikder, Shahana Akhter Rahman and Md Rafiqul Alam, treasurer Mohammed Atiqur Rahman and registrar ABM Abdul Hannan attended the programme.

Project director Professor Zulfiqar Rahman Khan and director (planning and development) Professor Abu Nasar Rizvi, among others, were present on the occasion.

http://amarhealth.com/Health-Institute/4727/BSMMUholdsmeetingonnewhospital

Coronavirus: Americans from quarantined cruise ship flown from Japan

Health Desk- 17 Feb, 2020: Two planes carrying hundreds of US citizens from a coronavirus-hit cruise ship have left Japan, officials say.

There were some 400 Americans on board the Diamond Princess. The ship with some 3,700 passengers and crew has been in quarantine since 3 February.

One of the planes has landed at a US Air Force base in California, and people will be quarantined for 14 days.

Meanwhile, China reported a total of 2,048 new cases on Monday - 1,933 of which were from Hubei province.

More than 70,500 people nationwide have already been infected by the virus. In Hubei alone, the official number of cases currently stands at 58,182, with 1,692 deaths. Most new cases and deaths have been reported in Wuhan, Hubei's largest city.

Courtesy: BBC Health

http://amarhealth.com/Spot-Light/4726/CoronavirusAmericansfromquarantinedcruiseshipflownfromJapan

Single HPV vaccine may help prevent cervical disease

Health Desk- 16 Feb, 2020: A single dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is associated with a significant reduction in cervical disease, according to a retrospective study in Cancer.

The CDC generally recommends two doses for those vaccinated between ages 9 and 14, and three doses for those vaccinated later.

Using a U.S. insurance claims database, researchers matched nearly 67,000 females aged 9 to 26 who received at least one dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine with 67,000 unvaccinated controls.

The estimated rate of preinvasive cervical disease at 5 years was 2.65% in the unvaccinated group, versus 1.62%, 1.99%, and 1.86% among those who received one, two, and three vaccine doses, respectively, between ages 15 and 19. After multivariable adjustment, one vaccine dose was associated with a 36% risk reduction; two doses, a 28% reduction; and three doses, a 34% reduction.

http://amarhealth.com/pharmaceuticals/4725/SingleHPVvaccinemayhelppreventcervicaldisease

DNCC launches crash programme to control Mosquitos

Health Desk- 16 Feb, 2020: Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) authorities Saturday launched a two-week crash programme for mosquito control, amid a rise in mosquito population in the capital partly due to subdued activities of city corporations because of the recently-concluded city polls.

"All 54 wards of DNCC will come under the crash programme," said panel mayor of DNCC Jamal Mostafa, while inaugurating the programme at Police Staff College in Mirpur-13.

"We hope city dwellers will get its benefit," he said, adding that the programme will continue till February 28.

Jamal said they will use fogger machines, wheel-barrow machines and vehicle-mounted foggers to kill mosquitoes.

The move comes at a time when residents of different parts of the city have been suffering from mosquito menace over the last one month, as no significant efforts were seen on the city corporations' part in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, an official of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) said they are continuing their adulticide and larvicide-spraying work to control mosquito population.

http://amarhealth.com/Health-Institute/4724/DNCClaunchescrashprogrammetocontrolMosquitos

First coronavirus death in Europe

Health Desk- 16 Feb, 2020: The death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak jumped past 1,500 in China on Saturday as France reported the first fatality outside Asia, fuelling global concerns about the epidemic, reports AFP.

More than 66,000 people have now been infected in China from a virus that emerged in central Hubei province in December before spreading across the country and some two dozen countries.

Amid criticism over the handling of the crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for tighter policing to protect social stability, while Beijing ordered people returning to the capital to self-quarantine for 14 days in the latest drastic measure aimed at containing the virus.

In France, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist died from the new coronavirus, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said.

Only three other deaths have been recorded outside mainland China—in the Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan.

The death toll in China, meanwhile, rose to 1,523 after 143 more people died in the country, most in Hubei.

Several countries have banned arrivals from China and major airlines have cut services with the country.

The biggest cluster outside China is on a quarantined cruise ship off Japan, with 285 infections now as dozens more cases were confirmed. The US embassy said it would evacuate Americans stranded on the vessel, who would face a further quarantine of two weeks in the United States.

The virus spread last month as millions travelled across the country for the Lunar New Year, which was extended by three days—more than a week in some cities—in an effort to prevent further contagion.

People have slowly started to return to work in the past two weeks, though many are doing their jobs from home and schools remain closed.

Beijing’s municipal government enacted a rule on Friday requiring all people coming to the capital to quarantine themselves for 14 days, warning that violators would be punished, according to official media. It was unclear how authorities would enforce the measure.

Chinese authorities have placed some 56 million people in Hubei and its capital Wuhan under quarantine, virtually sealing off the province from the rest of the country in an unprecedented effort to contain the virus.

A number of cities far from the epicentre have also imposed tough measures limiting the number of people who can leave their homes.

Battling the outbreak is a “big test for the country’s governance system and governance ability,” Xi said in a Communist Party central committee meeting on Friday.

The government must “increase use of police force and strengthen the visible use of police,” to ensure stability during the crisis, Xi said in a February 3 speech published by state media on Saturday.

In another drastic preventive measure, China’s central bank said Saturday that used banknotes were being disinfected with ultraviolet light or high temperatures, and stored for up to 14 days before they are put back into circulation.

The scale of the epidemic ballooned this week after authorities in Hubei changed their criteria for counting cases, retroactively adding thousands of new patients to their tally.

Hubei added more than 14,000 cases in a single day this week after officials there started counting people clinically diagnosed through lung imaging, in addition to those with a positive lab test result.

On Saturday, the National Health Commission reported 2,641 new cases of the COVID-19 strain, with the vast majority in Hubei.

The number, however, was almost half those reported the previous day.

“We’re seeking further clarity on how clinical diagnosis is being made to ensure other respiratory illnesses including influenza are not getting mixed into the COVID-19 data,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The number of new confirmed cases has been steadily falling outside Hubei, with 221 infections reported on Saturday.

A top Chinese scientist had predicted that the epidemic could peak by the end of this month after the number of new cases had fallen earlier in the week.

The WHO has cautioned that it was “way too early” to make any predictions about the disease’s trajectory.

An international team of WHO experts will arrive in Beijing this weekend for a joint mission with Chinese counterparts.

The joint team will inspect three provinces and cities to review the prevention and control measures, visit research centres, and make recommendations for containing the epidemic, according to National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng.

http://amarhealth.com/amar-doctor/4723/FirstcoronavirusdeathinEurope

Doctor's hanging body found in city

Health Desk- 15 Feb, 2020: Police recovered the hanging body of a doctor of BIRDEM General Hospital from a private hospital at Matuail in the capital on Friday.

The deceased was identified as Mobarak Karim, a physician of Anesthesia Department of the BIRDEM.

Siddiqur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Demra Police Station, confirmed the matter.

He said police had recovered the hanging body of the deceased from a room of Friendship Specialised Hospital and Digital Diagnostic Centre at around 12:00 noon.

According to the information, Jamal, director of the private hospital, uses the room in which the victim’s body was found.

The body was sent to the morgue of Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (Mitford Hospital) for autopsy, he said.

In response to a question whether it was a murder or suicide, the OC said they primarily suspected it was a suicide as police recovered the body after breaking the door which was locked from inside.

As the incident took place in the hospital, police will carry out investigation into the matter.

Mainul Islam, brother-in-law of the victim, claimed that it was a pre-planned murder.

http://amarhealth.com/Health-Crime/4722/Doctorshangingbodyfoundincity

PM mourns loss of lives in China

Health Desk- 15 Feb, 2020: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her deep condolences for the loss of lives due to the outbreak of ‘coronavirus‘ in Wuhan city and other places of China.

The prime minister conveyed her sincere sympathy to the families of the victims.

In a message written to Xi Jinping, the President of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, expressed her firm conviction that the Government of China will be able to face and stop the aggravation of the situation with utmost capacity and control, said the Foreign Ministry on Friday. 

She mentioned that establishing a taskforce and building emergency hospitals to address the crisis is timely and praiseworthy.

The prime minister said the people and the Government of Bangladesh are with the friendly people and the Government of China to address the crisis.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned the readiness of the government of Bangladesh to extend any help to mitigate the plight of the victims.

She also extended her sincere thanks for taking well care of a good number of Bangladeshi citizens living in China at the tragic moment of coronavirus outbreak.

Sheikh Hasina extended her sincere appreciation for the able leadership and commitment of Xi Jinping to his country and people.

She also mentioned that Xi Jinping’s prudent leadership has elevated China to a different height of development. China has become a global model of development due to his dynamic leadership, she added.

The prime minister appreciated the contributions of Chinese President to the international arena and Asian Region in particular.

“The relation between Bangladesh and modern China got a solid foundation with the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to China in 1952 and 1957. China-Bangladesh relations have further strengthened under your undisputed relationship,” she mentioned.

Sheikh Hasina expects the presence of the Chinese president in Bangladesh at the inauguration ceremony of Bangabandhu’s Birth Centenary during the ‘Mujib Year’ to be held on 17 March 2020. She wishes China’s continued peace, progress and prosperity.

http://amarhealth.com/environment-health/4721/PMmournslossoflivesinChina

করোনাভাইরাস: মাস্ক সঙ্কটে সিঙ্গাপুর

স্বাস্থ্য ডেস্ক- ১৪ ফেব্রুয়ারি, ২০২০: প্রাণঘাতী করোনাভাইরাসে আতঙ্কিত চীনসহ পুরো বিশ্ব। এ আতঙ্ক ছড়িয়ে পড়েছে সিঙ্গাপুরও। বৃহস্পতিবার দেশটিতে নতুন করে আরও আটজন করোনা ভাইরাসে আক্রান্ত হওয়ার খবর পাওয়া গেছে। সিঙ্গাপুরে করোনাভাইরাসে আক্রান্তের সংখ্যা দাঁড়িয়েছে ৫৮ জন। এদিকে, করোনাভাইরাস থেকে বাঁচতে নিজেদের মতো করে বিভিন্ন সুরক্ষামূলক ব্যবস্থা নিচ্ছেন সেখানকার বাসিন্দারা। সম্প্রতি সেখানে প্রচুর পরিমাণে বিক্রি হচ্ছে কনডম।

সিঙ্গাপুরভিত্তিক সংবাদমাধ্যম টুডে অনলাইনের প্রতিবেদনে এ তথ্য জানা গেছে।

প্রতিবেদনে বলা হয়েছে, করোনাভাইরাসে হাত থেকে নিজেদের বাঁচাতে কনডম ব্যবহার করছেন সিঙ্গাপুরবাসীরা। পাবলিক প্লেসে সংক্রমণ ঠেকাতে ব্যবহৃত হচ্ছে কনডম। যেমন, লিফটের মতো জায়গায় কনডম ব্যবহার করছেন সাধারণ মানুষ। সোশ্যাল মিডিয়ায় সেই সব ছবি ছড়িয়ে পড়েছে। যেখানে দেখা যাচ্ছে, এক ব্যক্তি আঙুলে কনডম পরে লিফটের বোতাম টিপছেন।

সংবাদমাধ্যমটি জানিয়েছে, করোনাভাইরাস থেকে বাঁচতে মাস্ক বা অন্যান্য সরঞ্জামে টান পড়তে শুরু করেছে সিঙ্গাপুরে। যতটা চাহিদা তার থেকে অনেক কম সরবরাহ হচ্ছে এসব সরঞ্জাম। ফলে নিজেদের মতো করেই ভাইরাসের ছোঁয়া এড়িয়ে চলার চেষ্টা করে যাচ্ছেন সাধারণ মানুষ। আর এই কারণেই সিঙ্গাপুরে কনডমের বিক্রি বেড়ে গেছে। দোকানগুলোতে স্টক প্রায় শেষের মুখে।

http://bangla.amarhealth.com/pharma/14780/

Govt to lend support for traditional medicine

Health Desk- 14 Feb, 2020: Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday said that they would give government support for expansion of traditional medicine and traditional health care services.

He also called upon all to pay attention to forestry and not to cut down trees indiscriminately in a bid to conserve raw materials of traditional medicine.

“Alongside allopathic medicine, traditional medicine is equally important. When allopathic medicine was not developed, traditional medicine was widely practiced. Although the allopathic sector later grew larger, traditional medicine did not grow that way. The government cannot do everything alone. The private sector will take initiative in this regard and the government will provide all kinds of support,” he said.

The health minister made the statements at the concluding ceremony of BIMSTEC Traditional Healthcare Expo-2020 at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital.

Bangladesh Ayurved Foundation (BAF) and Indian Chamber of Commerce jointly organized the event titled “BIMSTEC Traditional Healthcare Expo 2020”.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the event as the chief guest on Wednesday.

Major General Md Mahbubur Rahman, Director General of Directorate General of Drug Administration, ABM Ghulam Mostafa, President of Bangladesh Ayurved Foundation, AFM Fakhrul Islam Munshi, chief coordinator of organizing committee of the BIMSTEC Healthcare Expo, Sujoy Ghosh, Head of Healthcare Initiative of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and Mujtoba Murshed, adviser (media) at BIMSTEC secretariat also were present at the function.

http://amarhealth.com/pharmaceuticals/4720/Govttolendsupportfortraditionalmedicine

বিশেষ শিশুদের মাতিয়ে তুললো পাপেট শো, পুতুল নাচ

স্বাস্থ্য ডেস্ক- ১৪ ফেব্রুয়ারি, ২০২০: সিরাজগঞ্জের বিশেষ শিশুদের স্কুল ‘যমুনা আহাদ আলী অটিস্টিক ও বুদ্ধিপ্রতিবন্ধী বিদ্যালয়’-এর ১২ বছর পূর্তিতে সেখানে গিয়েছিলেন অভিনেত্রী কাজী নওশাবা আহমেদ ও তাঁর পুতুল নাচের দল ‘টুগেদার উই ক্যান’।

কাজী নওশাবার সঙ্গে ছিলেন ‘মধু হই হই’ গেয়ে জনপ্রিয় হওয়া গায়ক ইমরান হোসেন।

চরাঞ্চলের স্কুলটির শিক্ষার্থীরা নওশাবার পাপেট শো ও পুতুল নাচ ভীষণ উপভোগ করে। সমাজসেবায় নিয়মিতই পাওয়া যায় ‘ঢাকা অ্যাটাক’ অভিনেত্রীকে।

বিশেষ শিশুদের সান্নিধ্য পেয়ে ভীষণ আপ্লুত নওশাবা জানান, সুযোগ করে আবারও ছুটে যাবেন বিশেষ এই শিশুদের কাছে।

http://bangla.amarhealth.com/kids-corner_1/14779/

Call to create 10,000 jobs for persons with disabilities

Health Desk- 13 Feb, 2020: Speakers at a view exchange meeting on Thursday underscored the need for creating employment opportunity for 10,000 persons with disabilities to bring them to the mainstream of the society.

The meeting on persons with disabilities and autism was held on Wednesday at NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) in the city, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) Director General (Additional Secretary) A K M Abdus Salam presided over the meeting where participants shared their ideas which could be initiated for the well-being of the specially-abled people, it added.

Several issues were proposed in the meeting for special groups such as training on sign language for 100 people, installing challenged-people friendly toilet and other infrastructure in all NGOs and placing banner with the logo of Mujib Year on office premises.

Representative from 50 national and international NGOs participated in the meeting and shared their plan for celebration of the Mujib Year, a press release said.   

http://amarhealth.com/good-news/4718/Calltocreate10000jobsforpersonswithdisabilities

Air pollution costs world $2.9tn a year

Health Desk- 13 Feb, 2020: The global cost of air pollution caused by fossil fuels is $8 billion a day, or roughly 3.3 percent of the entire world's economic output, an environmental research group said Wednesday.

The report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Greenpeace Southeast Asia is the first to assess the global cost of air pollution specifically from burning oil, gas and coal.

"We found that the China Mainland, the United States and India bear the highest costs from fossil fuel air pollution worldwide, an estimated $900 billion, $600 billion and $150 billion per year, respectively," the report said.

Particles thrown off by fossil fuel usage account for 4.5 million premature deaths each year around the globe, including 1.8 million in China and a million in India, the researchers found.

The new figure is in line with World Health Organization (WHO) estimates of 4.2 million deaths each year linked to ground-level air pollution, mostly from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections in children.

Living in the New Delhi area of India is like smoking 10 cigarettes a day, earlier research has shown.

"Air pollution from fossil fuels is a threat to our health and our economies that takes millions of lives and costs us trillions of dollars," said Minwoo Son, clean air campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia.

The global cost for 2018 was $2.9 trillion, the report estimated.

"But this is a problem that we know how to solve: by transitioning to renewable energy sources, phasing out diesel and petrol cars, and building public transport."

The 44-page report breaks down the global burden of fossil fuel-driven air pollution -- measured in economic costs and premature deaths -- by type of pollutant and by country.

Each year the global economy takes a $350 billion hit from nitrogen dioxide (NO2) -- a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion in vehicles and power plants -- and a further $380 billion hit from ozone, according to middle-ground estimates.

By far the most costly pollutant is microscopic fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), which accounts for more than two trillion dollars per year in damages, measured in health impacts, missed work days and years lost to premature death.

http://amarhealth.com/environment-health/4717/Airpollutioncostsworld29tnayear

None infected with coronavirus yet: IEDCR

Health Desk- 13 Feb, 2020: The health directorate on Wednesday said no novel coronavirus, newly named as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), case was detected in the country till Wednesday.  

“No person infected with COVID 19 has been detected yet in Bangladesh. Though a suspect was admitted to a hospital of Dhaka, the virus was not found after the test of his samples,” said Prof Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).         

She disclosed the latest update on the virus while addressing a press briefing at the IEDCR.

Sabrina Flora also said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has named officially the coronavirus as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Abul Kalam Azad held a meeting with owners of private hospitals on Wednesday and directed them to open separate unit in their hospitals immediately for COVID-19 treatment, if necessary.

The owners of the private hospitals agreed on the directives and sought cooperation of the government in this regard.

According to the IEDCR, it has received 1358 calls for inquiry over the virus. So far, some 59 have gone through tests. But, no one has been diagnosed with the virus yet.

The government has decided to put passengers coming from China or those who had visited China in the last 14 days under quarantine.

http://amarhealth.com/country-wide-health/4716/NoneinfectedwithcoronavirusyetIEDCR

Coronavirus deaths grow by 97 to 908, total infections pass 40,000

Health Desk- 10th Feb, 2020: Mainland China has reported another rise in cases of the new virus after a sharp decline the previous day, while the number of deaths grow by 97 to 908, with at least two more outside the country.

On Monday, China's health ministry said another 3,062 cases had been reported over the previous 24 hours, raising the Chinese mainland's total to 40,171.

Earlier, France closed two schools after five British visitors contracted the virus at a ski resort. Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam reported one new case each.

Meanwhile, the mother of a physician who died last week in the hardest-hit city of Wuhan said she wants an explanation from authorities who reprimanded her son for warning about the virus.

Monday's rise was a turnaround from a significant reduction in new cases reported Sunday, 2,656, down by about 20% from the 3,399 new cases reported in the previous 24-hour period. That had prompted optimism that the "joint control mechanism of different regions and the strict prevention and control measures have worked," in the words of a spokesman for the National Health Commission, Mi Feng.

Also Sunday, new cases were reported in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, the U.K. and Spain. More than 360 cases have been confirmed outside mainland China.

"Dramatic reductions" in the pace of the disease's spread should begin this month if containment works, Dr. Ian Lipkin, director of Columbia University's Center for Infection and Immunity, said in an online news conference on Sunday. He assisted the World Health Organization and Chinese authorities during the outbreak of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Warmer weather will reduce the virus's ability to spread and bring people out of enclosed spaces where it is transmitted more easily, Lipkin said.

However, he said, if new cases spike as people return to work after the Lunar New Year holiday, which was extended to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, then "we'll know we're in trouble."

http://amarhealth.com/Spot-Light/4714/Coronavirusdeathsgrowby97to908totalinfectionspass40000

Landmark study to transform cancer treatment

Health Desk- 9 Feb, 2020: More than a thousand scientists have built the most detailed picture of cancer ever in a landmark study.

They said cancer was like a 100,000-piece jigsaw, and that until today, 99% of the pieces were missing. Their studies, published in the journal Nature, provide an almost complete picture of all cancers.

They could allow treatment to be tailored to each patient's unique tumour, or develop ways of finding cancer earlier.

The Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes Consortium analysed the whole genetic code of 2,658 cancers.

A cancer is a corrupted version of our own healthy cells - mutations to our DNA change our cells until eventually they grow and divide uncontrollably.

Most of our understanding of this process comes from the sets of genetic instructions for building the body's proteins.

"That's a mere 1% of the whole genome," said Dr Lincoln Stein from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.

He said doctors would be "in the dark" when treating around a third of patients, as it was impossible to tell why their cells had become cancerous. It has taken teams in 37 countries more than a decade to figure out what the 99% were doing.

Courtesy: BBC

http://amarhealth.com/amar-doctor/4713/Landmarkstudytotransformcancertreatment

Coronavirus death toll surpasses SARS

Health Desk- 9 Feb, 2020: Mainland China's death toll from the new virus outbreak has risen to 811, surpassing the number of fatalities in the 2002-2003 SARS pandemic, as authorities enforce ever-stricter measures to curb the further spread.

In a possibly hopeful sign, however, the number of new cases reported over the last 24 hours on Sunday fell significantly from the previous period. Another 89 deaths were reported, while 2,656 new cases were added for a total of 37,198. On Saturday, 3,399 cases were counted for the previous 24 hours.

More than 300 cases in some two dozen countries and two fatalities have been confirmed outside the mainland.

SARS had killed 774 people and sickened 8,098, mainly in mainland China and Hong Kong. The response this time has been much quicker and countries around the world are enforcing tougher measures to contain the disease. China has placed around 50 million people under quarantine, mainly in and around Wuhan, the hardest-hit central Chinese city where the virus was first detected in December among people who had visited a food market where live wild animals were sold.

Thus far, the new virus that is of the same family of coronavirus as SARS, has proven far less deadly, killing around 2-3% of those infected, Chinese authorities say. SARS killed 9.6% of those who caught it, according to the World Health Organization.

A 60-year-old U.S. citizen was among the new fatalities in Wuhan, apparently the first American death in the outbreak. A Japanese citizen being treated in Wuhan who was a suspected case also died.

http://amarhealth.com/environment-health/4711/CoronavirusdeathtollsurpassesSARS

'Sleep deprivation can increase your risk of diabetes'

Health Desk- 8 Feb, 2020: Inadequate sleep can affect body's ability to regulate and metabolize glucose. Most people suffering from high blood sugar levels usually are the ones who do not sleep properly night.

When your blood sugar level is too high, your kidneys try to get rid of it by urinating. So, if you are getting up too many times to go to the bathroom at night, this can also be a sign of high blood sugar level.

In a study, healthy adults were asked to sleep for only four hours at night for six days. After six days, the glucose tolerance levels (the ability to break down glucose) of these people were measured. It was found that their glucose tolerance level was 40 per cent lesser than before - reaching the levels that are typical of older adults at risk of diabetes.

Additionally, when sleep-deprived people were fed high carbohydrate breakfast, their glucose levels stayed significantly higher than when they were well-rested.

When a person enters deep sleep, the nervous system activity goes down, the brain uses less glucose and other changes occur such an increase in growth hormone and a decrease in the activating hormone cortisol. That is why a sufficient amount of deep sleep is very important in regulating the body's glucose levels.

In another experiment, researchers manipulated people's sleep stages. The scientists disrupted people's sleep just enough to keep them from entering deep sleep but not enough to fully wake them. After these nights, the insulin sensitivity and glucose levels of these people went down by 25 per cent.

Experts believe this is the reason insufficient sleep can lead to weight gain and risk of diabetes.

People who have diabetes should be very careful with sleep. Because even a little change in their routine can make them experience lack of energy and fatigue. The more you feel fatigued, the more your body motor works and you become more likely to develop insulin deficiencies. Thus, proper sleep is as important as diet for people with diabetes.

There is no one formula for how much sleep one needs. One's sleep requirement is genetically determined and varies. On an average, we need 7.5 hours of sleep per night.

Courtesy: Times of India

http://amarhealth.com/pharmaceuticals/4710/Sleepdeprivationcanincreaseyourriskofdiabetes

No coronavirus infection detected in Bangladesh

Health Desk- 8 Feb, 2020: The health directorate said there’s no necessity for healthy persons to wear mask as preventive measure for Coronavirus.

“There is no need of using masks for healthy persons. Only the people who are suffering from sneezing and cough will wear mask while going outside home. But the masks will have to be kept in bin which remains covered,” Prof. Dr. Meerjady Sabrina Flora, Director of Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) said in a statemen.  

She came up with the suggestion while addressing a press briefing at the IEDCR on Friday about giving latest update of the deadly Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Meerjady Sabrina Flora said the passengers who have returned from Wuhan of China recently and have been quarantined at Ashkona Hajj Camp in the capital are now doing well.

The flight pilot and cabin crews are also under observation and they have been suggested to remain quarantined in their houses for 14 days.

She said the passengers who have returned from China recently and have been quarantined at Ashkona Hajj Camp, Kurmitola General Hospital and Combined Military Hospital (CMH)in the capital are now doing well.

According to the IEDCR,it has received 900 calls for inquiry over coronavirus. So far, some 53 have gone through coronavirus tests. But no one has been diagnosed with the virus yet. The government has decided to put passengers coming from China or those who had visited China in the last 14 days under quarantine.

According to the IEDCR, a total of8396 people have been screened at the airport in Bangladesh till Friday from January 21.

The Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has opened four hotlines in Dhaka for creating awareness on novel coronavirus.  The Bangladesh government has taken different preventive measures in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus in China and other countries.

As part of the measures, the IEDCR launched the hotlines. The hotlines are 01937110011, 01937000011, 01927711784 and 01927711785.

Addressing a press conference, the Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday said the government will address the mask shortage concern, but urged people not to buy those in panic while he said Japan has assured them of providing 7 million masks soon.

Citing experts’ advice, the health minister said there is no need of using masks for healthy persons.

http://amarhealth.com/Health-Institute/4709/NocoronavirusinfectiondetectedinBangladesh

WHO gives advice to public on coronavirus

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Health Desk- 07 February, 2020: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has given various health advice, including vaccination against respiratory illnesses, to be protected from the ills of coronavirus.

Novel coronavirus, originating from China’s Wuhan, has spread across the globe killing over 500 people and infecting tens of thousands of others. People across the globe are panicked due to a host of misconceptions and misinformation on various forums.

To dispel some of the myths about the virus, the WHO, on its website, has issued a range of advice and information on coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus, WHO said.

“The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV, and WHO is supporting their efforts,” it said.

Although these vaccines are not effective against 2019-nCoV, vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health, WHO advised.

Quoting study report, WHO said sesame oil does not kill the new coronavirus. There are some chemical disinfectants that can kill the 2019-nCoV on surfaces. These include bleach/chlorine-based disinfectants, either solvents, 75% ethanol, peracetic acid and chloroform.

However, they have little or no impact on the virus if you put them on the skin or under your nose. It can even be dangerous to put these chemicals on your skin.

About age risk, WHO said people of all ages can be infected by the new corona virus (2019-nCoV). Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more.

There are no specific medicines to prevent or treat the new corona virus. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria.

The new corona virus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.

http://amarhealth.com/Spot-Light/4707/WHOgivesadvicetopubliconcoronavirus

No toll fee for ambulances from March 1

Health Desk- 07 February, 2020: Ambulances carrying patients will not have to pay toll on roads, ferries, and bridges under the Roads and Highways Department from March 1 this year.

Road Transport and Bridges Ministry on Thursday issued a circular in this regard, Nazrul Islam, secretary to the road transport and highway division (RTHD) told the media.

“This is one of the initiatives the ministry has taken to mark ‘Mujib Borsho’,” he said.

The circular said tolls would be waived both for the government and private ambulances on the condition that the service providers would deduct the amount from the ambulance fare.

Following a directive from Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, the RTHD on October 10 last year wrote to the finance ministry seeking its consent to keep ambulance outside the purview of toll collection.

Earlier, in November last year, the finance ministry approved the proposal.

In December, the road transport ministry sent a letter to the health ministry asking to take necessary measures to implement the decision.

Copies of Thursday’s circular were sent, among others, to the cabinet secretary, principal secretary to the prime minister, secretaries of public administration, health, finance and home and the chief engineer of RHD.

http://amarhealth.com/country-wide-health/4705/NotollfeeforambulancesfromMarch1

Prof Dr Sayeba among 20 Ekushey awardees

Health Desk- 06 Feb, 2020: Prof Dr Sayeba Akhter, the inventor of ‘Sayeba's Method’ will get country’s second highest civilian award, Ekushey Padak, this year, reports UNB.

Besides, nineteen other eminent personalities and an organisation will also get the award in recognition of their contributions to various fields.

The Cultural Affairs Ministry announced the names of the recipients on Wednesday.

Prof Dr Sayeba Akhter was the head of Department of Gynaecology in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). She has been providing fistula treatment in a city’s private hospital among the patients. Maternal mortality is one of the giant problem in developing countries. The main cause of this death is bleeding during delivery.

Seventy years back Prof Dr Sayeba Akhter invented the means of stopping bleeding during delivery named ‘Sayeba's Method’.

The method is- just stopping bleeding by pushing catheter with a condom into the uterus and swelling it up. This method is now followed by a huge number of countries across the globe.

The other awardees are as follows-

Aminul Islam Badsha (posthumous) has been selected for his role in the Language Movement.

Begum Dalia Nowshin, Shankar Roy and Mita Haque are being recognised for their contributions to music while Golam Mostafa Khan, SM Mohsin and Prof Dr Farida Zaman for dance, performing arts and fine arts respectively.

Hazi Akhter Sarder (posthumous), Abdul Jabbar (posthumous) and Dr AAM Mesbahul Haque (posthumous) have been chosen for their roles in the Liberation War.

Journalist Zafar Wazed (Ali Wazed Zafar) has been picked for the award for his contribution to journalism and Dr Jahangir Alam, Hafez Qwari Syed Saifur Rahman Nizami Shah and Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute for their roles in research while Prof Dr Bikiran Prasad Barua for education.

Prof Dr Shamsul Alam and Sufi Mohammad Mizanur Rahman are getting the award for making contributions to economy and social service respectively.

Dr Nurun Nabi, Sikder Aminul Haque (posthumous) and Begum Nazmun Nesa Piari have been selected for language and literature.

Each recipient will get a gold medal, a certificate and a cheque for Tk 2 lakh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the Ekushey Padak to the awardees at a ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium on February 20.

http://amarhealth.com/good-news/4704/ProfDrSayebaamong20Ekusheyawardees