Although the new form of Corona 'JN1' has been stable for quite some time in the country, the number of patients infected with Corona 'JN1' has started to increase in the last few days. The coronavirus subvariant JN.1 may cause a rapid increase during the summer season, public health authorities have warned.
Experts fear that the number of patients infected with corona will increase further in the coming summer. If the temperature increases, the number of corona-infected patients may also increase.
For this reason, Professor Dr Nazmul Islam, Director of the disease control branch of the Directorate of Health, has suggested increasing surveillance from now on.
The Disease Control branch of the Directorate of Health said that Bangladesh is on the Corona 'JN1' risk list along with 45 countries in the world. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) also reported that the new variant JN1 was found in 5 patients last month. And so far at least 32 of its samples have found the new variant JN1.
Public health experts said that there are more coronavirus patients than in the past. According to the database, 2 people in Gazipur, 9 people in Dhaka, 2 people in Kishoreganj, 2 people in Comilla, 1 person in Jessore, 3 people in Sylhet, 9 people in Chittagong, 1 person in Dinajpur, 2 people in Gopalganj and 1 person in Chandpur were found to have JN1 variant.
Public health experts say that Omicron's type JN.1 is much more effective at avoiding the immune system. As a result, its infection rate is high. But the risk is low. Officials say there is no evidence that JN.1 poses a significant threat to public health due to more serious illnesses.
Meanwhile, according to the organization, this type can spread very quickly. He also said that coronavirus has now become like a seasonal disease in Bangladesh. However, there is a risk of increasing negligence. Because only in January, 838 patients were identified, and 5 people died. And 254 patients were identified in six days of February. The number of infected is higher due to new variants. Get tested if you are sick, health officials suggests. Also, hygiene rules should be followed. If you are sick, you do not go out. Masks should be used if necessary to go out.
The Directorate of Health said there is a fear that coronavirus patients will increase during summer. New variants may not cause fatal infections but that cannot be fully confirmed now. Because further mutations can change its behaviour. Mutation can lead to increased severity. Then death will increase. So the government has to increase surveillance from now on. Screening activities are currently underway at all ports.
Apart from this, those who are showing symptoms, are being tested at all hospitals. We need to update our treatment guidelines. Doctors and nurses should be trained. Starting from the upazila level, it should be ensured that the oxygen system is sufficient everywhere. Everyone should go to the centre and take the vaccination, said health experts.
It is to be noted that on January 18, the Member Secretary of the Health Directorate’s COVID-19 Vaccine Management Task Force issued a circular and gave new instructions for giving the COVID-19 vaccine, after that the COVID-19 vaccination program was launched in various specialized institutions and government hospitals in Dhaka. It further announced that the COVID-19 vaccination program outside Dhaka will be conducted in government hospitals and district-level hospitals in phases.