A joint research report by the government's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and the private International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) on the current status of the corona virus did not project the picture of the deadly virus in Dhaka city as a whole.
On Tuesday (October 13) this was stated by IEDCR Director General Prof. Tahmina Shirin in a press release.
The interim results of a joint study by IEDCR and ICDDRB on the Covid-19 pandemic situation in Dhaka metropolis were released on Monday, the statement said. We sincerely thank the concerned media for publicizing the study report in the media. It is not claimed that the study paints a representative picture of the Dhaka metropolis. But its scientific basis has been weakened and confused as some media outlets have portrayed the entire Dhaka metropolis in the study. The results of such a small number of sample tests should not be concluded to represent the entire Dhaka metropolis. In order to present the true picture of Dhaka metropolis, it is necessary to collect a large number of representative samples in the future and conduct research on a larger scale. We request the concerned media to help us in resolving the confusion by expressing our importance to this statement.
It is to be mentioned that (October 12) in a seminar on corona infection situation and gene mutation, it was said that by examining the samples of 12,899 people in 25 wards of the capital Dhaka, corona was identified in 9.8 percent. The study found that 45 percent of people in Dhaka city were found to be antibody positive. In addition, 74 percent of slum dwellers are already infected. 24 percent of the victims are over 60 years of age. On the other hand, the percentage of 15 to 19 year olds is 16 percent. Out of 129 wards of Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporation, 25 wards were selected by random selection. A mahalla is selected from each ward. 120 houses from each mahalla were included in the survey. In addition, 8 slums were included in the survey. Samples of common area in Dhaka city were collected from mid-April to mid-July. Samples of slum dwellers were collected from mid-July to the end of August.