IEDCR, HEOC differ over passengers screened for coronavirus

File photo: Prothom Alo
File photo: Prothom Alo

Both the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control Research (IEDCR) and the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) belong to the government's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). And the control rooms of IEDCR and HEOC office are not far away from each other.

The IEDCR and the HEOC, however, have served two different versions of information over the screening and health of arriving passengers at airports.

According to an email of the HEOC, a total of 8,210 passengers entered Bangladesh through Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and all of them underwent health check-ups in past 24 hours (Saturday 8:00am to Sunday 8:00am).

The IEDCR control room, on the other hand, said that 9,676 passengers arrived in Dhaka airport and underwent health screening tests in the past 24 hours.

The difference of passengers' number given by the HEOC and the IEDCR is 1,466.

The HEOC said that a total of 108 passengers entered Bangladesh through Chattogram and Mongla seaports while the IEDCR had no information about this.

Seaport officials, however, told Prothom Alo that all passengers arriving in Chattogram and Mongla ports could not be screened as the passengers disembarked from boats or engine-run boats randomly before the health check-up centres.

The HEOC also said, a passenger with symptoms of coronavirus was detected at Dhaka airport but IEDCR had no such information.

IEDCR director professor Meerjadi Sabrina Flora could not be contacted but its principal scientific officer ASM Alamgir on Sunday said to Prothom Alo, "We can tell you about this (the difference of passengers) tomorrow (Monday)."

Prothom Alo could not contact any responsible person of the HEOC either.

Director of IEDCR, Meerjady Sabrina, told the media on Sunday that, earlier passengers coming only from China by air were screened, but now all passengers from any location were being screened at the airports.

"The infection scenario is now stable in China," Meerjady quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to say. "But the scenario is deteriorating in Singapore and so Bangladesh considers discouraging Singapore trips."

Highlighting the fact that Bangladesh was following the WHO guidelines in tackling virus outbreak, the director said required technologies for detection of the virus were available in the country. Despite that, if anyone was detected infected, she said test reports would be sent to the laboratory recommended by WHO for further assessment. "The identity of any patient shouldn't be disclosed to avoid harassment," she added.

Meanwhile, no symptoms of coronavirus infection were detected in a Bangladeshi student returning from China, who was admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) on Saturday. A 12-member medical board led by medicine department head of the hospital, Debendra Nath Sarkar, has confirmed this.

On Saturday, samples of his blood, saliva and sweat were sent to IEDCR in Dhaka as RMCH lacked in proper equipment. The student who is currently under observation at an isolated ward will be released as soon as the IEDCR diagnosis finds the samples virus-free.
In the meantime, a Bangladeshi was among three new coronavirus cases confirmed in Singapore, The Straits Times reported quoting the country's health ministry.

The 39-year-old Bangladeshi worker currently warded in an isolation room at NCID (National Centre for Infectious Diseases) went to a clinic on 3 February. After two days, for further screening he went to Changi General Hospital where he was admitted to the intensive care unit after a follow-up appointment on 7 February, the Singapore-based newspaper said.

Confirming the case, Bangladesh high commissioner to Singapore, Md. Mustafizur Rahman, told Prothom Alo "The Singapore authorities have informed us of the infection. For privacy, details on the patient were not provided, but we hope to learn the particulars by Monday."

Mustafizur said the high commission would take all the necessary measures regarding the recuperation of the Bangladeshi.