Contact Us
Please contact us if you:
E-mail: info@poffoundation.org
Mission and Vision
Mission
The Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (POFFCH&RI) mission is to provide comprehensive cancer care to one and all through our motto of excellence in service, education and research.
The Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation (POFF is a multi-sectoral platform for all those interested in collaborating on common projects relating to cancer diagnosis, treatment , research and rehabilitation along with its mission to eradicate poverty, illiteracy, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and shocks around the world. We are made up of people and organisations who are committed to develop, promote and support tangible improvements that will ultimately create awareness and actions that will improve and extend the lives of patients living with cancer worldwide.
Our goal is to improve and extend the lives of men and women living with cancer in all countries worldwide and to fight for a cure. We will also raise awareness of cancer and lobby worldwide for the improvement of the lives cancer patients.
The main purpose of the Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation (POFF) is to serve and support the mission of Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (POFFCH&RI) , which is: “To lead in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of cancer through programs of excellence in research, education, outreach, and cost-effective patient care.” And to create individual, family and community awareness about the burden of cancer, self examination, screening, personal information, early detection and management including provision of psycho-social support. We are also working on developing innovative approaches including opening micro-credit health care insurance for cost effective primary cancer care services.
The mission of Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation is therefore to provide care throughout the pursuit of diagnosis, prevention, survivorship, and cure of cancer; and to achieve this through excellence in different programs aimed at cancer prevention, screening, nursing, survivorship, clinical care, research, education, rehabilitation and community outreach as well as part of its mission to eradicate poverty, illiteracy, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and shocks.
For about three decades our POFFCH&RI has been trying to the national and international leader in all phases of cancer diagnosis, treatment, research, prevention and rehabilitation. The vision of the POFF is to not only reach to this position of leadership, but to transform and grow our POFFCH&RI so that it is at the forefront of all major new developments in clinical care, research, training, and outreach, and raises our field to new levels and frontiers that keep pace with the revolution of personalized therapies, new genomic and immune-based therapies, epigenetics, behavioral change, and decision making in cancer care.
Our vision includes:
The guiding principles for enacting each component of this vision are: integration, innovation, translation, and dissemination.
Is Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital and Research Institute only for cancer?
At POFFCH&RI, the sole focus is cancer. The physicians here treat cancer patients Day In, Day Out and Night In , Night Out basis, also through Day Care Services. Physicians are rendering their services through it’s Main Branch at Gopalgonj and other two branches in Khulna and Dhaka. A network of outpatient facilities that provide medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, gynaecologic oncology and also general surgery, internal medicine, gynaecolgy and obstetrics, otolaryngology etc more conveniently for patients who live in mainly adjacent to Gopalgonj District, Khulna District, Dhaka District and as a whole Bangladesh.
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital and Research Institute has been has been working in accordance with the International standards . Thus it has affiliation with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA; Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala, India, PARAS HIMRI Hospital, Bihar, India and etc. POFFCH&RI has been maintaining close cooperation and collaboration with them on the treatment, education, training and research. At present ,we are a proud research partner with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA; where our mutual patient a 8 years old girl from a remote area of Noakhali District has been under Clinical Trial with an experimental drug since September 2016 till death. She has been suffering from a very very rare “Secretory Breast Cancer” ( First case in the world) since 2010. Except this,
Here , specialties range from surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to imaging and pathology. Our highly trained oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists work closely with your doctors and will be an essential part of your team. We are an in-network provider on many insurance plans.
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital and Research Institute is one of the privately operated non-profit cancer center in Bangladesh and is the only private hospital in the country dedicated solely to cancer care.
The mission of Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital and Research Institute is to provide leadership in the prevention, treatment and cure of cancer through excellence, vision and cost effectiveness in patient care, outreach programs, research, and education.
Theme:
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation is a non profit, non political, philantropic, voluntary, humanitarian, non political, government approved and assisted, social welfare organization dedicated to do something for the humanity and mankind around the world through it's associated organization Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital and Research Institute. This organization has been operating various social, educational, medical and other welfare programs in all over the world. This organization also rehabilitates the helpless, distress and poor people as well as organize many social activities. Through this foundation, national and international day is celebrated with due respect and this foundation organizes seminars and rally for "World Cancer Day" and "World No Tobacco Day" "October Month-Breast Cancer Awareness month"etc to increase the awareness amongst the public. Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation has been rendering services to the under previledged cancer patients free of cost or less price throgh Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital and Research Institute.
Mission:
Men and women and their loved ones make of the sense of the complicated medical complex and personal information about the cancer.
Vission:
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation is working with the goverment, public representatives, local population, community health visitors, family planning inspectors and voluteers to create individual, family and community awareness about the burden of cancer, risk factors of cancer, screening, early diagnosis and management including provision of psycho-social support. We are also working on developing innovative approaches including opening micro credit health insurance for cost effective cancer care services.
Mission and Vision
The Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation (POFF is a multi-sectoral platform for all those interested in collaborating on common projects relating to cancer diagnosis, treatment , research and rehabilitation along with its mission to eradicate poverty, illiteracy, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and shocks around the world. We are made up of people and organisations who are committed to develop, promote and support tangible improvements that will ultimately create awareness and actions that will improve and extend the lives of patients living with cancer worldwide.
Our goal is to improve and extend the lives of men and women living with cancer in all countries worldwide and to fight for a cure. We will also raise awareness of cancer and lobby worldwide for the improvement of the lives cancer patients.
The main purpose of the Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation (POFF) is to serve and support the mission of Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (POFFCH&RI) , which is: “To lead in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of cancer through programs of excellence in research, education, outreach, and cost-effective patient care.” And to create individual, family and community awareness about the burden of cancer, self examination, screening, personal information, early detection and management including provision of psycho-social support. We are also working on developing innovative approaches including opening micro-credit health care insurance for cost effective primary cancer care services.
The mission of Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation is therefore to provide care throughout the pursuit of diagnosis, prevention, survivorship, and cure of cancer; and to achieve this through excellence in different programs aimed at cancer prevention, screening, nursing, survivorship, clinical care, research, education, rehabilitation and community outreach as well as part of its mission to eradicate poverty, illiteracy, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and shocks.
For about three decades our POFFCH&RI has been trying to the national and international leader in all phases of cancer diagnosis, treatment, research, prevention and rehabilitation. The vision of the POFF is to not only reach to this position of leadership, but to transform and grow our POFFCH&RI so that it is at the forefront of all major new developments in clinical care, research, training, and outreach, and raises our field to new levels and frontiers that keep pace with the revolution of personalized therapies, new genomic and immune-based therapies, epigenetics, behavioral change, and decision making in cancer care.
Our vision includes:
The guiding principles for enacting each component of this vision are: integration, innovation, translation, and dissemination.
Coronavirus: What People with Cancer Should Know
What is Coronavirus, or COVID-19?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals. CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and has now been detected in the United States and many other countries. The virus has been named SARS-CoV-2, and the disease it causes has been named coronavirus disease 2019, which is abbreviated COVID-19.
This is a rapidly evolving situation and the risk assessment will be updated as needed.
If I have cancer, am I at higher risk of getting or dying from COVID-19?
Some types of cancer and treatments such as chemotherapy can weaken your immune system and may increase your risk of any infection, including with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. During chemotherapy, there will be times in your treatment cycle when you are at increased risk of infection.Adults and children with serious chronic health conditions, including cancer, are at higher risk of developing more serious complications from contagious illnesses such as COVID-19.
If I have cancer, how can I protect myself?
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 or specific treatment for it. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Precautions for avoiding COVID-19 are the same as for other contagious respiratory illnesses, such as influenza (flu).
Professor Dr. Obayedullah- Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute (POFFCH&RI) along with The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend everyday preventive measures to help prevent the spread of respiratory infections, including:
POFFCH&RI and CDC recommend additional actions to help keep people at high risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 healthy in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, including:
I receive cancer treatment at a medical facility. What should I do about getting treatment?
If you are receiving treatment for your cancer, please call your health care provider before going to your next treatment appointment and follow their guidance. As health care systems adjust their activities to address COVID-19, doctors treating cancer patients may also have to change when and how cancer treatment and follow-up visits are carried out. The risk of missing a cancer treatment or medical appointment must be weighed against the possibility of exposing a patient to infection.Some cancer treatments can be safely delayed, while others cannot. Some routine follow-up visits may be safely delayed or conducted through telemedicine. If you take oral cancer drugs, you may be able to have prescribed treatments sent directly to you, so you don’t have to go to a pharmacy. A hospital or other medical facility may ask you to go to a specific clinic, away from those treating people sick with coronavirus.The coronavirus situation is changing daily, with states and cities making changes in how they are handling quarantine and critical health care, so check with your provider as needed.
I participate in a clinical trial at a medical facility. What should I do?
If you are in a cancer treatment clinical trial, please call your clinical trial research team and follow their guidance. Physicians and scientists at NCI are working with doctors and health care staff who carry out NCI-sponsored clinical trials across the United States and in Canada to implement specific measures within our clinical trials networks that will address the current challenges of providing care to patients enrolled in clinical trials. The health of each clinical trial patient is the institute’s most important concern, and NCI is flexible about how clinical trial treatments can be completed and when tests and assessments must be done.
The Institutional Review Boards that oversee each protocol to ensure the safety of patients will work with investigators quickly to make changes that will provide flexibility while maintaining patient safety.
What should I do if I have symptoms of an infection?
Call the health care provider if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and have symptoms of an infection. Hotlines: +088-01711310534, +088-01710941199
What if I have additional questions?
POFFCH&RI’s and NCI’sCancer Information Service (CIS), can help answer questions that you or a loved one may have about COVID-19 or your care.
To reach the CIS:
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute,
Paikkandi, Gopalgonj, Bnagladesh.
Hotlines: +088-01711310534, +088-01710941199
www.poffoundation.org ;info@poffoundation.org;obayedullahbaki@gmail.com
(Related Resources are Coronavirus (COVID-19), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - CDC,
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - NIH, Infection and Neutropenia during Cancer Treatment, 3 Steps Toward Preventing Infections During Cancer Treatment and publication of National Cancer Institute, USA 0n 9th April 2020 on Coronavirus).
Courtesy:
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute,
Paikkandi, Gopalgonj, Bnagladesh.
Hotlines: +088-01711310534, +088-017109411
www.poffoundation.org,info@poffoundation.org, obayedullahbaki@gmail.com
Coronavirus and smoking: What does the World Health Organization say?
Given that tobacco use is thought to kill an estimated eight million people every year, a report that claimed that smokers were less likely to contract coronavirus raised eyebrows last week.
The preliminary study, by the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, stated that "current smoking status appears to be a protective factor against the infection by SARS-CoV-2".
Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital wrote that "nicotine may be suggested as a potential preventive agent against COVID-19 infection", based on scientific literature and the hospital's own observations.
But the study also warned that "nicotine is a drug of abuse responsible for smoking addiction".
"Smoking has severe pathological consequences and remains a serious danger for health".
Despite this, the new information has clouded evidence about the relationship between smoking and COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
So what do world health experts say? Are smokers less likely to contract the virus?
No. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), those who smoke are likely to be more vulnerable to infection.
"The act of smoking means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips which increases the possibility of transmission of the virus from hand to mouth," said the WHO.
"Smoking products such as water pipes often involve the sharing of mouthpieces and hoses, which could facilitate the transmission of COVID-19 in communal and social settings."
"Smokers may also already have lung disease including cancer or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase the risk of serious illness."
"Conditions that increase oxygen needs or reduce the ability of the body to use it properly will put patients at higher risk of serious lung conditions such as pneumonia."
Studies also show that smokers were more likely to die than non-smokers during the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in 2012.
In a further statement to Euronews, the World Health Organization say they are currently reviewing research and studies concerning smoking and nicotine.
"The current evidence suggests that the severity of COVID is higher among smokers".
"The only people who should be using nicotine patches right now are people who need to use them to quit smoking."
A report in March by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) has also identified smokers as a "vulnerable group" to infection from COVID-19.
The ECDC says that a higher ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme II) gene expression in lung tissues, something increased by tobacco use, may be linked to "higher susceptibility" of the coronavirus.
While available data may be limited, scientific studies cited by the WHO and ECDC state that smoking can make people more susceptible to serious complications from a coronavirus infection.
The advice from the World Health Organization has also been echoed by national authorities across Europe.
A local Foundation Trust for the UK's National Health System has released information about the coronavirus that there is "an increased risk for people who smoke".
“If you are going to give up smoking, this is a very good moment to do it,” said Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Chris Whitty.
NHS guidelines also state that smoking increases the risk of "more than 50 serious health conditions".
The French Health Ministry has stated that smokers are not more of risk of contamination, but they are "more at risk of developing serious conditions".
France has severely curtailed the sale of nicotine products after the recent study in Paris.
Pharmacies are now limited to selling no more than one-month supplies of any nicotine products aimed at curbing dependence on cigarettes.
Meanwhile, the online sale of products has been banned altogether.
The Health Ministry said the measures were taken to "prevent the health risk linked to the excessive consumption or misuse" of nicotine products by people hoping to protect themselves from COVID-19.
The Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris is planning to clinically test the use of nicotine patches on hospitalised COVID-19 patients to investigate their theory.
Researchers are nevertheless not encouraging citizens to take up smoking, due to other potentially fatal health risks that are involved.
Courtesy:
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute,
Paikkandi, Gopalgonj, Bnagladesh.
Hotlines: +088-01711310534, +088-017109411
www.poffoundation.org,info@poffoundation.org, obayedullahbaki@gmail.com
বিবর্তিত হতে হতে করোনা আরও ভয়ঙ্কর হয়ে উঠছে, বলছে গবেষণা
Coronavirus: Covid 19 may be more dangerous after being mutated repeatedly, Researchers say.
দ্রুত নিজেকে বদলাচ্ছে করোনাভাইরাস।
বিশ্বের বিভিন্ন প্রান্তের গবেষকরা এই মুহূর্তে কোভিড-১৯-কে জব্দ করার চেষ্টায় মগ্ন। প্রতি দিনই প্রায় অচেনা মারণ ভাইরাসের নতুন নতুন চরিত্র জানতে পারছেন বিজ্ঞানীরা। মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের লস অ্যালামাস ন্যাশনাল ল্যাবরেটরির একদল গবেষক জানিয়েছেন, নভেল করোনাভাইরাসের যে বিবর্তিত ধরনটি (মিউটেটেড স্ট্রেন) ইউরোপে ছড়িয়ে পড়েছে তার সংক্রমণ ক্ষমতা তুলনামূলক ভাবে অনেক বেশি। লস অ্যালামাস ন্যাশনাল ল্যাবরেটরির গবেষক দলের প্রধান, কম্পিউটেশনাল বায়োলজিস্ট বেট করবার এবং ইংল্যান্ডের ইউনিভার্সিটি অব শেফিল্ড ও ডিউক ইউনিভার্সিটির গবেষক দল একত্রে সার্স কোভ-২ ভাইরাস নিয়ে গ্লোবাল ডেটাবেস বিশ্লেষণ করে আমেরিকার প্রথম সারির দৈনিক ‘ওয়াশিংটন পোস্ট’-কে এই তথ্য জানিয়েছে|
নভেল করোনাভাইরাস ইউরোপে পৌঁছনর পর ডি-৬১৪ জি স্পাইক প্রোটিন মিউটেট করে, অর্থাৎ বিবর্তিত হয়ে আরও মারাত্মক হয়ে উঠেছে। আরএনএ ভাইরাসের স্পাইক প্রোটিনই মানুষের কোষে সংক্রমণ ঘটায়। এই তিনটি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের গবেষকদল কোভিড-১৯ ভাইরাসের স্পাইক প্রোটিন বিশ্লেষণ করে এই সিদ্ধান্তে এসেছেন যে মিউটেশনের ফলে ভাইরাসের সংক্রমণ আরও জোরদার হয়েছে। ফেব্রুয়ারি মাসের প্রথম দিকে ইউরোপে কোভিড-১৯ ভাইরাসের প্রকোপ শুরু হয়। তখনই চিনের উহান থেকে আসা এই ভাইরাসটির মিউটেশন হয়। আর বদলে যাওয়া স্পাইক D614G নিয়ে দ্রুত মারাত্মক হারে ছড়িয়ে পড়ে। গবেষণাটি আরও নিখুঁত তথ্য ও যথাযথ সমীক্ষার পর গ্রাহ্য হবে বলে বিজ্ঞানীদের আশা।
মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের ন্যাশনাল ইনস্টিটিউট অব হেলথের অধিকর্তা ফ্রান্সিস কলিন্স ‘ওয়াশিংটন পোস্ট’কে ইমেল মারফৎ জানিয়েছেন যে লস অ্যালামাস ন্যাশনাল ল্যাবরেটরির গবেষক দলের প্রধান উদ্দেশ্য, নভেল করোনাভাইরাসের মিউটেশনের আগেই তা জেনে নেওয়া। এই প্রসঙ্গে গবেষকরা জানিয়েছেন যে কোনও জীবাণু জেনেটিক মিউটেশন কপি করার সময় কিছু ভুল করতে পারে, তবে তার জন্য জীবাণুটির সংক্রমণ ও রোগ সৃষ্টিতে সে রকম কোনও হেরফের হয় না। জেনেটিক্যালি ভিন্ন হলেও কার্যকারিতা, অর্থাৎ রোগ সৃষ্টির দিকে থেকে খুব আলাদা নয়। কিন্তু কোভিড-১৯ এর আশ্চর্যজনক দিক হল অনবরত অদ্ভুত ভাবে মিউটেশন হওয়া। কমবেশি সব ভাইরাসই নিজেকে বদলে ফেলে। কিন্তু পৃথিবী জুড়ে ছড়িয়ে পড়া নভেল করোনাভাইরাস আশ্চর্যজনক ভাবে অন্যান্য ভাইরাসের তুলনায় অনেকটাই স্থিতিশীল। আর এই কারণেই কোভিড-১৯-এর এত বাড়বাড়ন্ত বলে ভাইরোলজিস্টদের ধারণা।
লস অ্যালামাসের গবেষক দল বিশ্বের ইনফ্লুয়েঞ্জা ডেটাবেস থেকে পাওয়া পরিসংখ্যান থেকে পাওয়া জিনোম সিকোয়েন্স বিশ্লেষণ করে দেখেছেন যে উহান থেকে ছড়িয়ে পড়া কোভিড ১৯-এর থেকে ইউরোপের ভাইরাসের স্পাইকের ( D614G ) মিউটেশন হয়েছে। হার্ভার্ডের এপিডেমিওলজিস্ট এবং সংক্রামক রোগের বিবর্তন সংক্রান্ত বিশেষজ্ঞ উইলিয়াম হ্যানাগে জানিয়েছেন, কোভিড-১৯ এর স্পাইক প্রোটিন সংক্রমণ সৃষ্টির জন্যে দায়ী ঠিকই কিন্তু মিউটেশনের জন্য এর সংক্রমণ ক্ষমতা বাড়ে তা নিশ্চিত ভাবে বলতে গেলে আরও সমীক্ষা প্রয়োজন। তিনি জানান, নভেল করোনাভাইরাস যখন উত্তর ইটালিতে পৌঁছvয় সেখানকার বয়স্কদের মধ্যে রোগের বিস্তার হয় দ্রুত হারে। কোভিড-১৯-এর দু’ধরনের স্ট্রেন মার্চের শুরুতে ইউরোপে পৌঁছয়। আর এখন দুটি স্ট্রেনের প্রকোপ কমতে শুরু করেছে। যদি মিউটেটেড ভাইরাস বেশি সংক্রামক হত তা হলে রোগটা আরও ছড়িয়ে পড়ত বলে হ্যানাগে মনে করেন।
উইসকনসিন ইউনিভার্সিটির ভাইরোলজিস্ট ডেভিড ওকন্নোর মতে, লস অ্যালামোসের গবেষকদের বিশ্লেষণ উড়িয়ে দেওয়ার মতো নয় ঠিকই, কিন্তু তাঁদের তথ্য সংগ্রহে কিছু ত্রুটি থেকে গিয়েছে। সঠিক বিশ্লেষণের জন্য বিশ্বের বিভিন্ন অংশ থেকে পরিসংখ্যান নেওয়া উচিত ছিল। কিন্তু ওঁরা শুধুমাত্র ইউরোপ ও নর্থ আমেরিকার ডেটাবেসের উপর ভিত্তি করে গবেষণা করেছেন। এমনকি, মিউটেটেড নভেল করোনাভাইরাসে আক্রান্তদের হাসপাতালে ভর্তি সংক্রান্ত কোনও তথ্য লস অ্যালামাসের গবেষকরা জানাতে পারেননি।
ভারতে নভেল করোনাভাইরাসের মিউটেশন এবং সংক্রমণ ছড়িয়ে পড়া সম্পর্কে ভাইরোলজির বিশেষজ্ঞ অমিতাভ নন্দী জানালেন, আমাদের শরীরে অজস্র কোষ আছে, কিন্তু ভাইরাস কোনও কোষ নয়, জীব ও জড়ের মাঝামাঝি এক পার্টিকল। এই ভাইরাস আমাদের শরীরে প্রবেশ করেই শুরু করে কেরামতি। মানুষের শরীরে কোষের মধ্যে যে জিন আছে তার মধ্যে গেড়ে বসে। কোভিড-১৯ আরএনএ ভাইরাসের যে স্পাইক নিয়ে দেশ-বিদেশের বিজ্ঞানীরা কাজ করছেন, সেটাই হল এই ছোঁয়াচে অসুখের বড় হাতিয়ার। এই স্পাইকের সাহায্যেই কোভিড-১৯ আমাদের শরীরের শ্বাসনালী, মুখ, নাক বা গলায় পৌঁছে কোষে আটকে যায়। আটকে গিয়েই কোষে একটা ছিদ্র করে দিয়ে ভাইরাসের জিনকে আমাদের কোষের মধ্যে ঢুকিয়ে দিয়ে খোলস বাইরে ফেলে দেয়। এ বারে ভাইরাস জিনের মধ্যে পৌঁছে যায়। আমাদের জিন মনে করে, ভাইরাস আমাদের শরীরেরই অঙ্গ। তাই তারই নির্দেশিত পথে কাজ শুরু করে, বললেন অমিতাভবাবু। আমাদের জিনে একটা বিশেষ জায়গা আছে, তাকে বলে সিগনেচার। ব্যাপারটা অনেকটা কাপড় মাপার ফিতের মতো। এক একটা জায়গা এক একটা কাজের জন্য নির্দিষ্ট। ধরুন, এক ইঞ্চি জায়গায় গায়ের রং ঠিক হয়, এক ইঞ্চিতে মনমেজাজ, অন্য জায়গায় চুলের ঘনত্ব, এই রকম আর কী। ভাইরাস সেই অংশে গিয়ে জিনকে তার বিভিন্ন অংশ তৈরির নির্দেশ দেয়। স্পাইক, মেম্বব্রেন বা খোলস তৈরির পর কম্পিউটারের মতো অ্যাসেম্বল করে পুরো ভাইরাস তৈরি হয়ে যায়। লক্ষ লক্ষ ভাইরাস তৈরি হলে এক কোষ থেকে অন্যান্য কোষে ছড়িয়ে পড়ে। আমরা অসুস্থ হয়ে পড়ি। এই ব্যাপারটা সঠিক ভাবে জেনে নিয়েই ভ্যাকসিন তৈরি করা হচ্ছে। স্পাইকের সুনির্দিষ্ট গঠন জানাটা খুব জরুরি। তবে যে হারে কোভিড-১৯ মিউটেট করছে আগামী দিনে হয়তো প্রতি বছরই নতুন নতুন টিকা বানাতে হবে বলে জানালেন অমিতাভবাবু।
মোহালির ইসার (আইআইএসইআর)-এর হিউম্যান প্যাথোজেনিক ভাইরাসের সংক্রমণজনিত অসুখের গবেষক ইন্দ্রনীল বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় জানালেন, নভেল করোনাভাইরাস খুব তাড়াতাড়ি মিউটেট করে। ইউরোপ আমেরিকাতে কোভিড-১৯-এর মিউটেশন অনেক বেশি মানুষকে আক্রমণ করেছে। আমাদের দেশে অ্যানালিসিস চলছে, কতটা মিউটেশন হয়েছে এখনও জানা যায়নি। ইন্দ্রনীলবাবু জানালেন, ভাইরাসের মিউটেশন আর আমাদের বংশগত জেনেটিক মিউটেশন, এই দুটোর কম্বিনেশনের উপর নির্ভর করে ভাইরাস কতটা মারাত্মক আকারে ছড়িয়ে পড়বে বা এর প্রাবল্য তুলনামূলক ভাবে কম হবে। এই নিয়ে কাজ চলছে। তবে এখনই কোভিড-১৯-এর প্রকোপ কমে যাবে এ কথা বলা যাচ্ছে না। বরং আরও বেশি মাত্রায় ছড়িয়ে যাওয়ার ঝুঁকি আছে। তাই দূরত্ব বজায় রেখে চলতে হবে অনেক দিনই।
Courtesy:
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute,
Paikkandi, Gopalgonj, Bnagladesh.
Hotlines: +088-01711310534, +088-017109411
www.poffoundation.org,info@poffoundation.org, obayedullahbaki@gmail.com
5 Things Everyone Should Know About the Coronavirus Outbreak
By Kathy Katella April 27, 2020
Strict precautions could save lives as the disease spreads
While news about the coronavirus has been evolving, doctors says the best advice is to follow public health directives and take care of yourself.
[Originally published: January 23, 2020. Updated: April 27, 2020.]
COVID-19 continues to change daily life in the United States as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for spreading the disease, sweeps across the country. The U.S. declared a national emergency in mid-March, and Americans have been adjusting to strict guidelines and mandates instructing them to stay home, avoid unnecessary travel, and stay 6 feet away from other people.
In early March, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic—a disease outbreak occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population. According to the WHO, there are more than 2.8 million confirmed cases of people with COVID-19 and almost 200,000 people have died from the disease—a death toll that has far surpassed that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic that occurred in 2002 and 2003. (While some news sources report different numbers, the WHO provides official counts of confirmed cases once a day.)
In the U.S., the numbers are multiplying, as different parts of the country experience varied levels of COVID-19 activity. All 50 states have reported community spread (meaning the source of infection is unknown), and there have been large clusters in certain areas of the country.
SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that scientists haven’t seen before. Like other viruses, it is believed to have started in animals and spread to humans. Animal-to-person spread was suspected after the initial outbreak in December among people who had a link to a large seafood and live animal market in Wuhan, China.
Scientists and public health officials are working as quickly as possible to find answers to key questions about the severity of the disease and its transmission. They are investigating treatments and a potential vaccine for the disease.
Below is a list of five things you should know about the coronavirus outbreak.
1. What we know about COVID-19 is changing rapidly
What we do know about coronaviruses is that they cause respiratory tract illnesses that range from the common cold to such potentially deadly illnesses as SARS, which killed almost 800 people. COVID-19 is the first pandemic known to be caused by the emergence of a new coronavirus—novel influenza viruses caused four pandemics in the last century (which is why the response to the new disease is being adapted from existing guidance developed in anticipation of an influenza pandemic).
According to the CDC, reported COVID-19 illnesses have ranged from mild (with no reported symptoms in some cases) to severe, including illness resulting in death. People ages 65 and older, those living in a nursing home or long-term care facility, and people of all ages with underlying health conditions as cancer, chronic lung diseases, heart diseases, diabetes and etc. seem to be at higher risk of developing serious illness. But doctors are still working to develop a complete clinical picture of COVID-19, as evidenced by a CDC report noting that 20% of those who have been hospitalized for the disease in the U.S. are younger adults (between 20 and 44 years old).
“I think there are two main questions,” says Richard Martinello, MD, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist and medical director of infection prevention at Yale New Haven Health. “First, we need to know how this virus is transmitted between people so we can be more precise in our efforts to stop its spread. Data is needed not only to better understand when those who become ill shed the virus, but also which body fluids contain the virus and how those may contaminate surfaces and even the air surrounding them,” says Dr. Martinello. “Second, there needs to be a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the infection and resulting inflammatory response, so that knowledge can drive the development of therapeutic and preventive medications.”
More information is becoming available. The American Academy of Otolaryngology has called for adding anosmia (loss of smell) to a list of screening tools for COVID-19, and while evidence is still preliminary, the WHO says it is probing a possible link between the disease and the symptom.
Meanwhile, a letter to the editor published in The New England Journal of Medicine in mid-March showed the virus that causes COVID-19 may be stable for several hours in aerosols and for several hours to days on surfaces. Scientists from National Institutes of Health (NIH), CDC, UCLA, and Princeton University of USA who participated in the analysis found SARS-CoV-2 was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours, copper up to four hours, cardboard up to 24 hours, and plastic and stainless steel up to two to three days. While there is much to learn, scientists involved in the analysis observed that emerging evidence suggests people who are infected might be spreading the virus without recognizing, or prior to recognizing, symptoms, according to the NIH.
But Yale Medicine Infectious Diseases specialist Jaimie Meyer, MD, MS, notes, “A lot of times people will make basic science observations in the research lab, but it takes time for us to figure out how clinically relevant it is. So, we don’t know yet know what this study means for transmissibility. Until we understand more about the granular details of how SARS-CoV-2 passes from person to person, public health dictates that people maintain social distancing, wash hands, and frequently disinfect high-touch surfaces."
2. Strict measures are critical for slowing the disease
While no one knows for sure how the situation will progress around COVID-19, studies of influenza have shown that pandemics begin with an “investigation” phase, followed by “recognition,” “initiation,” and “acceleration” phases, according to the CDC, and that is followed by deceleration, during which there is a decrease in illnesses. Finally, there is a "preparation" phase, where the pandemic has subsided, and public health officials monitor virus activity and prepare for possible additional waves of infection. Different parts of the country can be in different phases of the pandemic, and the length of each phase can vary depending, in part, on the public health response.
The U.S. is currently in an acceleration phase, when the peak of illnesses occurs, and efforts are aimed at “flattening the curve.” If you map the number of COVID-19 cases over time, the expectation is that it will peak at some point—on a graph this peak would mirror a surge in patients (which could overwhelm hospitals and health care providers). Flattening the curve would mean there would be fewer patients during that period, and hospitals would be better able to manage the demands of patients who are sick with COVID-19 and other illnesses.
Guidelines from the White House call for "30 Days to Slow the Spread” a plan that has been extended through the month of April that stresses avoiding social gatherings of more than 10 people; maintaining a social distance of at least 6 feet from other people; working from home, if possible; practicing strict personal hygiene; using drive-thru, pick-up, or delivery options instead of eating in restaurants; and keeping your entire family home if someone tests positive for COVID-19. Many state and local authorities have taken stronger steps—Connecticut is prohibiting gatherings of groups of more than five people and directing people to wear face coverings in public when a six-foot distance is unavoidable, including in the workplace, and is extending its guidelines through May 20.
3. Infection prevention is key
There are many things you can do to protect yourself and the people you interact with. As with a cold, a flu vaccine won’t protect people from developing COVID-19. “The best thing you can do at this point is take care of yourself the way you would to prevent yourself from getting the flu,” says Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist Joseph Vinetz, MD. “You know you can get the flu when people sneeze and cough on you, or when you touch a doorknob. Washing hands—especially before eating and touching your face, and after going to the bathroom—and avoiding other people who have flu-like symptoms are the best strategies at this point.”
The CDC also recommends the following preventive actions:
Some cities and states in the U.S. are requiring residents to wear masks in certain public places, like grocery stories and pharmacies. The CDC recommends that everyone voluntarily wear cloth face masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas where there is significant community-based transmission. A cloth mask is not meant to protect the wearer from infection, but to slow the spread of the virus (if people who have the virus and do not know it wear masks, they may be less likely to transmit it to others). The CDC advises making face coverings at home from simple materials, and reserving surgical masks and N95 respirators for health care workers and other medical first responders.
While everyone should take precautions, measures may be critical for adults over 65 years old (the risk seems to gradually increase with age starting at age 40, according to the WHO) and those with chronic conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease). People in these categories especially should stock up on household items, groceries, medications, and other supplies in case they need to stay home for an extended period.
4. Experts are working rapidly to find solutions
In the U.S., widely available testing will be important in understanding how the disease is transmitted and the true infection and mortality rates. In addition to COVID-19 testing being done by the CDC, state and local public health labs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are currently using the CDC's COVID-19 diagnostic tests, although the number of available tests is still limited. Until there can be comprehensive testing for COVID-19, it's difficult to know how many cases have not been identified. One recent development is the first in-home test for the coronavirus. The nasal swab kit, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in mid-April, will be made available to health care and emergency workers who may have been exposed or have symptoms of the virus before it is released to the public at a later date.
Meanwhile, scientists are studying the virus closely. “With the new virus in a culture dish, they are looking at the biology and working to make drugs to treat it,” says Dr. Vinetz. There is also a great deal of effort underway to assess drugs in development (and some medications currently available) to determine if they are beneficial for treating patients infected with COVID-19, adds Dr. Martinello.
While no pharmaceutical products have yet been shown to be safe and effective for COVID-19, a number of existing medicines have been suggested as potential investigational therapies. An important effort is a clinical trial evaluating different potential therapeutics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, the first of which is remdesivir, says Yale Medicine infectious disease specialist Manisha Juthani, MD. Remdesivir is an antiviral treatment that, according to the National Institutes of Health,USA was previously tested in humans with Ebola virus disease and has shown promise in animal models for treating SARS and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a deadly virus that was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
In mid-March, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced the first testing in humans of an experimental vaccine called mRNA-1273 developed by NIAID scientists and their collaborators at the biotechnology company Moderna, Inc. The first trial is testing the vaccine on 45 healthy adult volunteers, ages 18 to 55, over approximately 6 weeks. But it could take at least a year before all the necessary phases of the investigation can be completed to ensure the vaccine is safe and effective enough to make publicly available.
5. If you feel ill, here's what you should do
So far, information shows the severity of COVID-19 infection ranges from very mild (sometimes with no reported symptoms at all) to severe to the point of requiring hospitalization. The CDC recently expanded its list of possible symptoms of COVID-19 The symptoms can appear anywhere between 2 to 14 days after exposure, and may include:
You should call your medical provider for advice if you experience these symptoms, especially if you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or live in an area with ongoing spread of the disease. The CDC has a Coronavirus Self-Checker that may help you determine whether you should seek help.
Most people will have a mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Seek medical attention immediately if you are at home and experience emergency warning signs, including difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or ability to arouse, or bluish lips or face. This list is not inclusive, so consult your medical provider if you notice other concerning symptoms.
Patients and members of the community can call the Yale Medicine/Yale New Haven Health Call Center at COVID-19 hotline of Yale New Haven Health at 203-688-1700 (toll-free, 833-484-1200) and Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute(POFFCH&RI) , Paikkandi, Gopalgonj ,Bangladesh or Directorate General of Health Services Call Centers at COVID-19 hotline of POFFCH&RI or DGHS at +088-01710941199, +088-01711310534, 333 if they have questions.
Be aware of the information and resources that are available to you
Because knowledge about the new virus is evolving rapidly, you can expect information and recommendations to change frequently. Threats like COVID-19 can lead to the circulation of misinformation, so it’s important to trust information only from reputable health organizations and government sources such as the CDC,DGHS, Bangladesh and the WHO. “The public health infrastructure in the U.S. is a critical resource for leading the federal, state, and local response,” Dr. Martinello says.
Yale Medicine doctors are advising anyone who has concerns about COVID-19 exposure or symptoms to call their primary care doctor for instructions. Doctors at Yale Medicine and Yale New Haven Health also are encouraging all patients to sign up for MyChart, a secure online portal that allows patients to manage and receive information about their health, and enables telehealth visits (by phone or video), which is how Yale Medicine specialists currently are delivering most care not related to COVID-19.
Health officials recognize that the outbreak has been stressful for everyone, and this can have serious impacts on mental health. If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others, call 911, or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517). You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (TTY: 1-800-787-3224.); Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute(POFFCH&RI) , Paikkandi, Gopalgonj ,Bangladesh or Directorate General of Health Services Call Centers at COVID-19 hotline of POFFCH&RI or DGHS at +088-01710941199, +088-01711310534, 333.
Courtesy:
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute,
Paikkandi, Gopalgonj, Bnagladesh.
Hotlines: +088-01711310534, +088-017109411
www.poffoundation.org,info@poffoundation.org, obayedullahbaki@gmail.com
Our New COVID-19 Vocabulary—What Does It All Mean?
Wait—Now I Should Wear a Mask?
Courtesy:
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute,
Paikkandi, Gopalgonj, Bnagladesh.
Hotlines: +088-01711310534, +088-017109411
www.poffoundation.org,info@poffoundation.org, obayedullahbaki@gmail.com
6 Things You Should Know About Coronavirus and COVID-19
The global coronavirus pandemic, of which the first cases were detected and reported in late 2019, is the result of a novel coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2 by the World Health Organization (WHO), that causes the disease COVID-19. This challenging and fast-moving health crisis is having significant impacts on families, communities, health systems and millions of people around the world.
Leading public health officials agree that the best way to slow the spread of this novel coronavirus is for people around the world to understand the signs and symptoms of the disease, while collectively following proven disease prevention measures, like the ones mentioned below, to help protect members of our communities who are most at risk.
1. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
General symptoms of COVID-19 according to the WHO:
Emergency warning signs of COVID-19 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Anyone experiencing any of the following emergency warning signs for COVID-19 should seek medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*:
*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
2. How does coronavirus spread, and who is at risk?
From the CDC webpage on How COVID-19 Spreads.
The virus is thought to primarily spread person-to-person:
Contact with contaminated surfaces or objects may also spread the coronavirus. According to the CDC, “it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.”
Anyone can get COVID-19 if exposed to SARS-CoV-2, and anyone can potentially be at risk of serious illness. However, the CDC states on the webpage People at Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19 that the highest risk groups are elderly adults and people who have other serious health concerns, including those with heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.
3. Are there any treatments for COVID-19?
According to the CDC: “There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.”
According to the WHO: “While some western, traditional or home remedies may provide comfort and alleviate symptoms of COVID-19, there is no evidence that current medicine can prevent or cure the disease. WHO does not recommend self-medication with any medicines, including antibiotics, as a prevention or cure for COVID-19.”
4. What to do if you feel sick
From the CDC’s What to Do if You Are Sick resource: “There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.”
The CDC recommends that people experiencing emergency warning signs seek medical care immediately while following the CDC’s recommendations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 while sick.
For people who suspect they may have COVID-19, but aren’t sick enough to be hospitalized, the CDC recommends Caring For Yourself at Home following the comprehensive list of recommendations provided, which includes limiting contact with other people to avoiding spreading the disease further.
5. How to protect yourself and reduce the risk of getting COVID-19
The CDC’s Steps to Prevent Illness page offers comprehensive information for how people can protect themselves and those around them. These recommendations include information about regular handwashing, cleaning and disinfecting everyday items, social distancing, and who should wear facemasks (primarily caregivers and people who are infected who will be in close contact with others).
6. What is social distancing?
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) defines social distancing as: “Measures taken to restrict when and where people can gather to stop or slow the spread of infectious diseases. Social distancing measures include limiting large groups of people coming together, closing buildings and canceling events.”
Around the world, many governments, schools and business have implemented social distancing protocols by asking people to study or work from home whenever possible; canceling festivals, meetings, conferences and other gatherings; and encouraging people to limit close contact with others when possible.
Courtesy:
Professor Dr. Obayedullah-Ferdousi Foundation Cancer Hospital & Research Institute,
Paikkandi, Gopalgonj, Bnagladesh.
Hotlines: +088-01711310534, +088-017109411
www.poffoundation.org,info@poffoundation.org, obayedullahbaki@gmail.com