The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR) in Bangladesh has, for the first time, identified reovirus in five individuals.
The health department has assured that there is no cause for concern, as none of the patients experienced significant complications and all have returned home after treatment.
Professor Tahmina Shirin, the director of IEDCR, informed the media that the institute routinely tests for various viruses, especially during the date juice season, when many fall ill with Nipah virus.
Recently, IEDCR examined samples from 48 individuals exhibiting symptoms similar to Nipah virus infections.
While Nipah virus was not detected in any of the samples, five individuals were found to be carrying reovirus.
This discovery was made as part of a regular collaborative research initiative with Columbia University in the United States, focusing on emerging pathogens.
Professor Shirin further stated that numerous encephalitis patients have been identified in the country, often without a known cause.
The findings from this research are expected to aid in the treatment of such patients.
Reovirus, which spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing, can cause symptoms like respiratory issues, fever, headaches, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
In severe cases, it may lead to pneumonia or encephalitis, a brain inflammation. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the virus.
