Gaibandha teacher died after contracting chickenpox, not smallpox: Health officials

A 45-year-old school teacher died on Monday night after contracting chickenpox in Gaibandha Sadar upazila.

Itish Chandra Das, a resident of Kholahati Bodghar Madhyapara village, was an assistant teacher at Kholahati High School.

His family members said that he passed away at home around 1:00am while undergoing treatment from a local healer (kobiraj).

He had been suffering from chickenpox since last Tuesday.

Locals feared smallpox, but health officials dismissed the rumours.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, Dr Nazmul Huda, told The Daily Star, "After receiving the news, I sent three personnel from the hospital. The reports circulating about smallpox are not correct. Other family members are infected with chickenpox, not smallpox."

Gaibandha Civil Surgeon Dr Rafiquzzaman told The Daily Star, “Smallpox was eradicated globally many years ago. Our team verified that the teacher died of chickenpox.”

"Generally, people do not die easily from this disease (chickenpox). However, he was suffering from other underlying health conditions (co-morbidities)," the civil surgeon added.

Smallpox was officially declared eradicated, by World Health Organization, on May 8, 1980.