Foreigners, entering Bangladesh through Jashore's Benapole, are undergoing medical check-up as the land port authorities are on alert amid the spread of coronavirus in China.
Till Friday (Jan 24), the Chinese 2019-nCoV (a new strain of corona) has killed 26 people and infected more than 800, forcing to suspended public transport in the country's 10 cities, shut temples over the Lunar New Year and even closing the Forbidden City and part of the Great Wall.
As many as eight foreigners -- four Australians, two Canadians, an American and an Irish -- underwent the medical examinations on Friday, Dr Hasanuzzaman of Benapole immigration told Bangla Tribune.
On Wednesday (Jan 20), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued an alert to all the entry points across the country with specific instructions on screening the passengers arriving from China.
Deputy Assistant Medical Officer of Benapole immigration Abdul Majid said they are advising the foreign nationals to be cautious and aware about the virus.
Police are cooperating the health department staff to carry out the test, said Khorshed Alam, OC of Benapole immigration police.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the new coronavirus an emergency for China but stopped short of declaring the epidemic of international concern, Reuters reports.
While most of the cases and all of the deaths have been in China, the virus has been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States. It was highly likely Britain also had cases, a health official said.
In Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the outbreak began last month, pharmacies were running out of supplies and hospitals were flooded with nervous resident seeking medical checks.
Most cases have been in Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated in a market that traded illegally in wildlife. Preliminary research suggested it crossed to humans from snakes.
The city of 11 million people, and neighbouring Huanggang, a city of about 7 million, were in virtual lockdown. Rail stations were largely shut, with few trains stopping, flights suspended and checkpoints on main roads in and out.