Zika virus has been detected in two individuals in Chittagong, marking a significant health concern for the region.
Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam confirmed the detection of the virus in both patients on Tuesday.
He said the blood sample tests of two individuals – one male and one female, both in their 40s – were conducted at Epic Healthcare Lab, a private diagnostic centre in the city on Monday night.
Dr Alam stated that the samples of the patients have been forwarded to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research (IEDCR) for further analysis. IEDCR, under the Ministry of Health, is responsible for making the final announcement on rare and unusual diseases.
In addition to the Zika virus, Dr Alam also reported 30 confirmed cases of Chikungunya in Chittagong. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to contain the spread of both viruses.