Dhaka: Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Prof Mahmudur Rahman has said Bangladesh needs to be more cautious about the outbreak of swine flu as neighbouring India has been hit hard by the disease.

The IEDCR director came up with the suggestion at a press conference, titled ‘Swine Flu Invasion in India and Our Role’, arranged jointly by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Ek Shastha Bangladesh at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in Dhaka on Sunday.

He said pregnant women, older people, children, and the people suffering from various long-term diseases like cancer and diabetes are more vulnerable to swine flu.

Professor Mahmudur Rahman also mentioned that Bangladesh has the facilities to diagnose swine flu quickly, and also the medicines required.

There are medical teams to detect infected people in the three international airports, Chittagong port and Benapole land port while 6,137 doctors have been trained to provide treatment to swine flu patients, he said.

Only a couple of people were being infected by the disease in last one month in the country and they were cured from it successfully; so there is nothing to panic about the flu at this time, he added.

Dr Mahmudur Rahman also gave some suggestions to stay out of the viral flu.

The suggestions are – covering nose and mouth with handkerchief or tissue while sneezing and coughing; washing hands several times in a day with soap or liquid antiseptic; restraining from spitting or coughing here and there; taking rest in residence if one catches cold or fever; and go to the nearest healthcare centre if there is any respiratory problem with fever.

BAPA general secretary Md Abdul Matin and Ek Shastha Bangladesh coordinator Dr Nitish Chandra Debnath also spoke at the programme.