Four die of 'mysterious' disease in Manikganj

Seven-year-old Nargis Akhter, affected with a mysterious disease, is being given saline solution at their house at Hafeznagar in Shibalaya upazila of Manikganj. The unknown disease claimed the lives of her parents recently. Photo: Star

Four people, including a couple, died of an unknown disease at Hafeznagar village in Shibalaya upazila of the district in the last two weeks.
The victims are Sajeda Begum, 40, her husband Md Akkas Ali, 45, mother Swarupjan Begum, 55, and neighbour Md Badal Mia, 36.
Badal Mia and Sajeda Begum died at Dhaka Community Hospital on March 28 and 29. Sajeda's mother Swarupjan Begum died on way to Dhaka on March 28, while her husband Md Akkas Ali at Monno General Hospital in Manikganj on March 14, family sources said.
Shibalaya Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr MA Halim Mollah quoted Prof Abdul Alim, head of medicine department at Dhaka Community Hospital, as saying that Sajeda Begum and Md Badal Mia died of viral encephalitis. However, Manikganj Civil Surgeon Dr Siddheswar Majumder said they are yet to identify the disease.
Akkas' daughter Nargis Akhter, 7, and Badal's son Rana, 14, are suffering from the same disease. They are now receiving treatment at their respective houses.
Dr Benazir Ahmed, director (disease control) of the Health Directorate, arrived here yesterday. He will visit ailing Nargis and Rana and talk to the family members, the civil surgeon said.
While visiting the village yesterday, Akkas' brother Md Dulal told this correspondent that Akkas started vomiting on March 10 and took medicine from a local medicine shop. As his condition deteriorated on March 13, he was admitted to Shibalaya Upazila Health Complex on March 13 and then shifted to Monno General Hospital in Manikganj where he died on March 14, Dulal added.
Akkas' wife Sajeda Begum and their daughter Nargis fell sick after his death. Sajeda's mother Swarupzan Begum, who was caring for her daughter and granddaughter Nargis, also got sick.
She was taken to Shibalaya Upazila Health Complex on March 26 and shifted to Manikganj Sadar Hospital the same day. She was referred to a hospital in Dhaka but died on the way to the capital on March 28.
Sajeda Begum and her daughter Nargis Akhter were taken to Shibalaya Upazila Health Complex on March 27. They were shifted to Dhaka Community Hospital on March 28 where Sajeda died on March 29.
Badal was admitted to Manikganj Sadar Hospital on March 26 and shifted to Dhaka Community Hospital on March 28. He died at the hospital the same day, said Badal's wife Rahima Begum.