CHITTAGONG: The death toll rose to nine as another four children died of an ‘unknown disease’ on Wednesday at Tripura para in Sonaichari upazila of Sitakunda in Chittagong. 

Moreover, some 40 other children affected by this unknown disease were admitted to Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) associated hospital in Chittagong’s Faujdarhat area.

The deceased children were identified as Kanai Tripura, Yanaiya Tripura, Fakti Tripura, Raikachi Tripura, Pakhi Tripura, Kasmarai Tripura, Rupali Tripura and Shimul Tripura. 

Civil surgeon Azizur Rahman Siddique told Banglanews that after visiting the place of this epidemic, 40 children were taken to hospital.

Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nazmul Islam Bhuiyan told Banglanews that four children died on Wednesday and five others died in the last four days after being infected by an unidentified disease. The identity of this disease could not be known yet; however, it’s an infectious disease. 

“According to locals, for the last eight to ten days, the children in the area had been realizing fever and pustule on their body. Since doctors can’t reach this remote area, most of the children were being treated by local Homeopathic medicine and nine of them died.” 

After the outbreak came into light, locals have taken an infected child to Faujdarhat BITID hospital where doctors have collected blood sample in order to identify the disease. It is believed to be a viral disease, he added.

BDST: 2040 HRS JULY 12, 2017
AP/SMS