<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">The government on Friday gave directives to the relevant authorities to keep the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Dedicated Covid-19 Hospital ready in the wake of the spread of the Nipah virus in 28 districts of the country.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued the directives asking the hospital authorities to keep 10 beds at the isolation ward and 10 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds prepared, said a press release signed by Dr Sheikh Daud Adnan, director (hospitals and clinics) of the DGHS.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On January 29, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said a total of five people died of Nipah virus across the country this year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Eight people were infected with Nipah virus and of them five people died.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Usually more than 70 percent of infected people die and people who drink raw date juice and fruits partially eaten by birds, especially bats, have the possibility of being infected with the virus.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Besides, healthy people who come in contact with the infected ones also have the possibility of being infected with the virus and it spreads from person to person quickly which is a matter of concern. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>