Catholic nurses battle to stop deadly virus in Bangladesh

(March 22, 2011) Catholic health workers in Bangladesh have launched a battle against an outbreak of encephalitis, which is threatening people in the diocese of Rajshahi in the north western part of the country. In a bid to contain the disease, the Episcopal and diocesan commissions for healthcare held a joint workshop for some 64 nurses and medical volunteers to explain the crisis.
Encephalitis is acute inflammation of the brain, usually stemming from a viral infection. It is caused when the body’s immune system attacks brain tissue by mistake. Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue. More advanced and serious symptoms include convulsions, hallucinations, memory problems, and even coma. “This training was important for our health workers, so they know how to combat this deadly disease and raise public awareness,” said episcopal healthcare committee secretary
Fr. Francesco Rapacioli from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions .