IEDCR advises against drinking date juice
Drinking raw date juice increases the risk of being infected by the Nipah virus
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has urged social and cultural organisations to refrain from arranging date juice related festivals.
There is a high possibility of getting infected by the Nipah virus from drinking raw date juice, said a press release.
The IEDCR has been trying to raise awareness of the Nipah virus in Bangladesh since 2001.
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Nipah is a deadly viral disease transmitted from bats to humans. Its main symptoms include fever, headache, itching, palpitation, unconsciousness and in some cases fatal breathing problems. It generally occurs in the winter season.
The IEDCR has advised caution over drinking raw date juice as bats usually drink it from receptacles at night while it is being collected from the date-palm tree.
As the disease can pass from human to human, the IEDCR has suggested taking precautions such as washing hands after coming in contact with an infected person.
Since 2001, the death rate of people infected by the Nipah virus in Bangladesh has been 70 percent, the press release added.
