RU Correspondent: Jaundice patients are increasing in Rajshahi University (RU). Jaundice has been detected in more than two hundred students in the last month. The daily patients increasing rate is 7-8, says the medical center official of the university.

The statistics of the medical center for the last 11 working days from February 4 to February 20, 463 people were tested and 89 people were diagnosed with jaundice. Out of this 67 live in hostels and 22 live in halls. As a result, more than 75 percent of jaundiced students live in mess and about 25 percent of students live in halls.

Since February 4, the university medical center has been storing information about where the affected students live to identify the outbreak of jaundice. And more than two-thirds of jaundiced students live in the mess.

However, according to last week’s statistics, the rate of infection among students in the hall has also increased. 353 people were tested and 62 people were diagnosed with jaundice.

Meanwhile, to prevent the spread of jaundice, on February 7, Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Md. Sultan-ul-Islam a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senior officials of the university administration, the director of the biology faculty, and the president of the pharmacy department were present in the meeting. There several decisions were taken to prevent the spread of jaundice.

Among the decisions taken are awareness campaigns to prevent jaundice transmission on campus, distribution of leaflets in residence halls, hostels, and campuses, miking and social media campaigns, etc. On the same day, the Vice-Chancellor (Administration) held a meeting with the principals and ordered them to take the necessary steps. According to the public relations department, the university administration has already taken more measures to ensure clean water supply and cleanliness.

Regarding the increase in the number of jaundice patients despite taking various measures, Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Sultan-ul-Islam said that the germs of jaundice mainly spread from unsanitary water and food. We have also seen that most of the students with jaundice live in the hostel and they consume the food and water there. That means off-campus food and water are relatively more problematic. Students should be aware. We have directed to distribute leaflets from halls and departments to make students aware. Now the halls and departments have to fulfill their responsibilities properly. Besides, students should also be self-aware.

He also said that the students of our hall who eat food outside the campus should also make sure that the food and water of that shop are good. We have also requested the health officials of the city corporation to take action. They also conducted an expedition. We conducted an awareness rally and a seminar through the pharmacy department. Now, there is no alternative to being self-aware.

The chief physician Tabibur Rahman Sheikh of the Medical Center on the prevention of jaundice said, it is possible to prevent this disease by drinking clean water, cooking properly, and consuming healthy food served cleanly. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A infection. Hence, it is better to prevent this disease by taking preventive measures. The most reliable way to prevent it is vaccination.

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