A Bangladeshi national has been reportedly kept in isolation after he developed a cold and fever over fears of contracting the deadly novel coronavirus.
The man has returned from China, where so far 213 people have died of coronavirus.
“We are not saying that he is infected with coronavirus. But he has been kept in an isolation unit as extra precaution,” bdnews24 quoted director general of Health Services Abul Kalam Azad as saying.
The authorities collected blood sample from the patient and he will be kept at the “isolation unit” until all necessary tests were done, Azad said
“His body temperature has decreased. There is nothing to be afraid,” he added.
The man arrived in Dhaka from Guangzhou on Wednesday night.
“He was cleared by the authorities in China. But we collected samples and kept him at an isolated unit of a hospital when his high body temperature arose our suspicion,” he added.
Bangladeshi authorities have started the screening of travellers from China at airports to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
Units to isolate suspected coronavirus patients have also been opened at the Kurmitola General Hospital and the Infectious Disease Hospital at Mohakhali in Dhaka following a government decision to quarantine such patients for 14 days.
In South Asia, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal have confirmed one case each of the coronavirus.