Illness in Bangladesh identified

Illness in Bangladesh identified

BANGLADESH: A mystery disease that has killed 10 people in Bangladesh has been identified as viral encephalitis and has no link to the bird flu that has struck nine other Asian countries, a doctor treating some of the victims said on Tuesday.

"I can categorically say there is no link with this disease and bird flu," said Dr. Tapash Ahmed who is treating patients in the worst-hit area Goalundo, 67 kilometers west of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

"We are quite sure that it is viral encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), but we don't know what strain it is due to lack equipment."

He told AFP by telephone that doctors in the district were treating patients with antibiotics.

Chickens from Thailand where an outbreak of bird flu has already claimed two lives were being imported by Bangladesh until last week when the Dhaka government imposed a ban.

Ahmed added that although he was happy to rule out a link, a close watch was still being kept on poultry farms in the area.

"We have been going from to door to door in the villages asking questions. It seems that not a single chicken has died so at this stage we are sure there is no case of bird flu here." -- AFP