For the first time in Bangladesh, a cluster infection of the Zika virus has been detected, according to the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). 

The icddr,b published the findings on its website on Monday (March 3).

Icddr,b scientists identified the virus in patient samples collected in 2023 through limited testing, confirming five cases. This is the first detection of a Zika virus cluster in Dhaka. The Bangladeshi strain belongs to the Asian lineage, which can cause severe conditions like microcephaly and other neurological disorders.

The icddr,b in a statement said that Bangladesh’s tropical climate, warm temperatures, and long monsoon season create ideal breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes, which spread several diseases. Besides dengue and chikungunya, Zika has now been identified.

Like dengue and chikungunya, Zika is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Its symptoms are similar to dengue, but about 80% of infected individuals do not show signs. The virus can remain in the body for years and can also spread through sexual contact. If a pregnant woman is infected, the baby may be born with birth defects.

BDST: 1727 HRS, March 03, 2025
MSK