SWINE FLU SPREADS RAPIDLY, BANGLADESH MAY RAISE ALERT LEVEL

DHAKA, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- As many more cases of swine flu were detected across the country, experts said that Bangladesh may raise its H1N1 alert to level 3, signalling an epidemic.

The government's tally has risen to 194 with 31 new cases confirmed on
Saturday, the highest single day jump since the health ministry announced the
first confirmed case of swine flu in Bangladesh on June 18.

"The situation is still at level 2, but as the infection is spreading
rapidly, we're taking preparations to manage the patients presuming a level 3
ahead," said Senior Scientific Officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease
Control and Research (IEDCR) Moshtaque Hossain.

Speaking at a seminar on swine flu, he said when the flu spreads from
cluster to community level rapidly it is termed "level 3" and at this stage
laboratory testing is no longer required, rather it demands augmented treatment
for the patients with antiviral drugs.

Dr Mahmudur Rahman, Director of the IEDCR told reporters that initial cases
detected in the country had arrived from overseas, but in recent weeks the trend
was clearly of rising infections within the country.

Though spreading of swine flu continues in Bangladesh, no death has been
reported until now and most of the affected persons recovered after treatment,
health authorities said adding that precautionary measures have been tightened
further at all the airports, seaports and landports.

-- BERNAMA