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