For the first time in Bangladesh, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has identified the presence of reovirus in five individuals. Despite the detection, none of the cases were severe, and all patients recovered fully after treatment. Health officials have assured the public that there is no reason for alarm regarding the newly identified virus.

In addition to the reovirus findings, the year 2024 also saw several patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of Nipah virus infection. However, only five cases of Nipah virus were confirmed after diagnostic testing.

Dr. Tahmina Shirin, Director of IEDCR, stated, “We detected reovirus in 2024. None of the infected individuals experienced serious illness, and all recovered completely and returned home after treatment.”

Reovirus is not widely known to cause significant outbreaks in humans. Among the five cases detected, none were linked to Nipah virus, as all tested negative for it. This discovery marks the first recorded cases of reovirus in Bangladesh. The virus did not exhibit widespread transmission, with only the initial five cases identified.

Nipah virus infections, by contrast, are commonly reported during the winter season in Bangladesh, often linked to the consumption of raw date palm sap. However, the five individuals diagnosed with reovirus had no history of Nipah virus infection. The cases were identified as part of IEDCR’s regular virus surveillance and research conducted in collaboration with Columbia University, USA.

According to the health authorities, the identification of reovirus highlights the effectiveness of ongoing virus monitoring systems in detecting emerging pathogens. Further research will be conducted to study the nature of this virus and its potential impact on public health. While the findings are noteworthy, the limited scope of infection indicates that reovirus does not currently pose a significant public health threat in Bangladesh.