Bangladesh is at Zika virus infection risk, Health Minister Nasim says

Bangladesh is at risk of Zika virus infection due to the presence in the country of the mosquito which carries the virus and the outbreak of the disease in neighbouring countries, the health minister says.

Mohammed Nasim was replying to MP AKM Rezaul Karim Tansen’s queries in Parliament on Wednesday.

"There is no Zika-infected patient in Bangladesh now. However, the country is at risk due to the outbreak of the virus in neighbouring countries and the existence of the Aedes mosquito in the country," he said.

Zika has spread in areas inhabited by foreigners in Singapore recently. 

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim

Nineteen Bangladeshi workers had been among those infected with Zika in Singapore.

Replying to another query by Mizanur Rahman, the health minister said all of them had returned to work after treatment.

He also said 'special measures' had been taken to detect Zika infection at airports, land ports and maritime ports.

According to him, 88 countries have confirmed the Zika infection so far. "All countries in Asia are at Zika risk," he added.

In his response to another query, the minister said that government data had shown that 4,143 persons were confirmed HIV positive in Bangladesh. Of them, 658 have died.