Physician in Barishal infected with Covid-19 again

A physician of Babuganj Upazila Health Complex in Barishal has been infected with Covid-19 for the second time.

Dr Shihabuddin, a junior consultant (surgery) of the health complex, tested positive for coronavirus on April 20 for the first time.

Then he was admitted to the Isolation Unit of the health complex. His sample was tested again after 10 days and then after 72 hours for the third time. Both the results came negative. He joined his work on May 20 after finishing his quarantine period.

Dr Shihab said a youth was admitted to the health complex on May 21 with head injury. The patient's brother was with him during the admission. His brother returned from Dhaka few days ago. The patient's brother tested positive for the virus later. "I May have infected by him," he said.

"Now I am in home-quarantine. I am maintaining health guideline and taking medicine regularly according to the advice of specialist doctors. Now I do not have coronavirus like symptoms. But I am not getting any taste of food," said Dr Shihabuddin.

Dr Shihab also described how he became infected the first time. He said a 45-year-old woman was admitted to the health complex on April 8 as she was injured in a clash between two groups at Brahmandiya village of Babuganj upazila. She caught fever on the third day of her admission. Her sample was sent for coronavirus test and it came positive. Dr Shihabuddin along with some nurses gave her medical services. "So I came in contact with the patient. Nine health workers of the complex, including a nurse, an office attendant and me, tested positive for the virus that time," he said. 

"When I contracted the virus for the first time, initially I had fever. Then I caught cold and felt throat pain. I was feeling very weak. But I followed the advice of doctors and maintained health guideline. I recovered by the grace of the almighty," said Dr Shiabuddin.

Subhas Sarker, Babuganj upazila health officer, said physicians had to go close to the patients for giving them medical services. That was why they were at risks of getting infected, he said.

He has called upon all to not hide the information if anybody is infected with coronavirus. "If anyone does it, his or her close ones or physicians will be infected. The situation will be further deteriorated if more physicians get infected," he said.  

Meanwhile, Farida Yasmin, wife of former lawmaker from Manikganj-2 constituency Syed Mohammad Abdul Mannan, tested positive for Covid-19.  Farida's relatives were trying to collect plasma for her. Dr Shihabuddin went to Dhaka on May 26 and donated plasma to Farida.

After staying one day in Dhaka, he went back to his workplace. On May 29, he caught fever. His sample was sent to Barishal Medical College again and the report came positive on June 3, said Dr Shihabuddin.