At the moment, the largest refugee camp in the world, Cox's Bazar, is a refuge for Rohingyas. The number of Rohingyas registered in 34 asylum camps in Ukhia and Teknaf is 1.1 million. These camps are also one of the most densely populated areas in the world. There were fears that the situation could escalate once the coronavirus infection started.
Of course, that fear did not go away. Considering the number of tests till October 2, the infection detection rate among Rohingyas is 2.39 percent. This rate is much lower compared to the infection situation in Bangladesh or just Cox's Bazar district. However, in the last one month, the number of new patients in the Rohingya camps has been much higher than the local population.
A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the United States released three models on the risk of infection in Rohingya camps last June. It said at least 4 lakh 21 thousand 500 Rohingyas could be infected in a year. More than 2,000 Rohingya may die. At least 2,126 people can be infected in the first three months of infection. The research team suggested proper preparation and local health care development to combat the infection.
Infection situation in Rohingya camps
The first coronavirus infection was reported in Wuhan, China, in late December last year. Gradually it spread in the form of epidemics in almost all the countries of the world. The government said on March 8 that it was the first in Bangladesh to detect the virus. Cox's Bazar is one of the districts in the country where the victims were initially identified. On March 24, an infection was detected in Cox's Bazar. He returned from Saudi Arabia on March 13.
However, the first infection was detected at the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar a few days later. On May 4, about two months after the first infection was detected in the country, Kovid-19 was first identified in the body of a Rohingya at the Lashbashia shelter in Ukhia. Since then the number of victims has been steadily increasing.

Densely populated Rohingya refugee camp.file photo
Samples of Rohingyas are being tested at Cox's Bazar Medical College Hospital. According to the Cox's Bazar District Civil Surgeon's Office, a total of 11,337 samples were tested till October 2. Of these, corona was identified in 281 cases. The detection rate is 2.39 percent. Six of the victims died.
Considering the number of tests in Cox's Bazar district till October 2, the patient identification rate is 14.41 percent, which is more than 18 percent in the whole country.
Measures to deal with infection
Precautionary measures are taken in advance considering the infection situation. The activities of various international and local non-governmental organizations and the movement of people are restricted.
The Office of the Commissioner for Refugee Relief and Repatriation (RRRC) is ensuring food, water, medicine, corona hygiene and home quarantine for the Rohingya people. Abu Toha MRH Bhuiyan, chief health coordinator of the office, told Prothom Alo that there was panic in the Rohingya camp about Corona. But due to taking appropriate measures, creating awareness, restricting the movement of people including NGO activities, the corona did not spread much.
According to the RRRC office, 142 refugees have been admitted to various isolation centers in the camps till September 29. Already 109 people have recovered with treatment. Earlier, at least 19,000 Rohingyas were given a 14-day home quarantine. Each family has been given 2 lakh masks per head. With hand sanitation, necessary materials including soap are being provided. Awareness campaign is also going on.
Yet there are risks
According to the Cox's Bazar District Civil Surgeon's Office, a total of 4,748 people, including Rohingyas, were diagnosed with the infection in Cox's Bazar district till October 2. The highest number of people affected in this district is in Cox's Bazar Sadar Municipality, 2 thousand 264 people. The Rohingya camps are located in Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas of Cox's Bazar. Ukhia is second only to Sadar municipality in terms of number of victims.
Till October 2, a total of 473 people were diagnosed with the infection in Ukhia Upazila. A total of 207 people were affected in the Rohingya camps in Ukhia.
On the other hand, corona was identified in the bodies of 373 local people in Teknaf. On the other hand, 64 Rohingyas have been affected in the shelters in this upazila.
However, in the space of one month (September 3 to October 2), the rate of new cases among the Rohingyas is higher than the local population. The growth rate of new patients among the local population in Ukhia is 13.63 percent, which is 49.75 percent among the Rohingyas in Ukhia.
The overall condition of the Rohingya camps is comparable to the slums of the capital. A large portion of the people in the slums are infected with respiratory diseases. If a virus is active in the respiratory system, it is difficult for another virus to become active. This may be one of the reasons why the number of infections in slums or Rohingya camps is relatively low. However, research is needed.
Professor Nazrul Islam, Former Vice Chancellor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
The same picture has been found in Teknaf. The patient growth rate among the local population is 10 percent, which is 6.75 percent among the Rohingya.
Zakir Hossain, a boatman (Rohingya leader) from Balukhali camp in Ukhia, told Prothom Alo that the number of patients suffering from fever and cough in the shelter camp is increasing. Death is also happening with the symptoms of corona. Apart from that, many refugees have no idea about the symptoms of Corona disease. He claimed that many families did not get masks, hand sanitizers and soap.
Although the infection is still low, locals fear it could increase at any time. If this happens, the danger will increase. Ukhia Upazila Parishad Chairman Hamidul Haque Chowdhury told Prothom Alo that the population of Ukhia and Teknaf is more than six lakh. 11 lakh Rohingyas have been added to it. Despite the hardships, Rohingyas left the camp and went to the markets and shops of Ukhia and Teknaf for shopping. There is a risk of spreading corona infection on both sides.
Sample test situation
As of October 2, 12,050 samples have been tested for every 1 million people in the country. In the case of Rohingyas, the rate is a bit lower, 9,758. However, the number of sample tests is higher in the camps as opposed to patient identification.
The World Health Organization says that if a sample of 10 to 30 people is tested to identify a patient, the test is considered sufficient. In Bangladesh, on an average, a little more than 5 people have been tested to identify a patient. On the other hand, in the case of Rohingyas, about 42 samples have been tested so far against the identification of one patient.
Abu Toha MRH Bhuiyan, chief health coordinator at the RRRC office, told Prothom Alo that previously an average of 25 samples were collected daily. Now 180 to 200 samples are being tested daily. This number will be increased gradually.

Putibunia temporary Rohingya camp in Huaikeng Union, Teknaf. Rohingya profile pictures are crowded in these camps
Why infections are low
In August 2016, about eight lakh Rohingyas took refuge in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, after being tortured by the Myanmar army. The Rohingya people, who have been displaced at different times before, have taken refuge here. In all, there are now 11 lakh Rohingyas registered in various shelters in Cox's Bazar.
The character of the coronavirus that has been revealed so far is that where there is a high population density, there is also a high risk of contracting the virus. However, the level of infection in the Rohingya camps has not yet been seen to be acute. The same applies to the slums of the capital. But why? So far no specific scientific explanation has been found. However, experts are making some assumptions.
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health have taken cognizance of the Rohingya issue since reports of coronavirus infection in Wuhan, China. There, three models, led by scientist Shawn Trulov, were set up to discuss how the infection situation could take shape. A report on the Johns Hopkins University website was published on September 23. In it, Trulov said, their goal was to get an idea of how horrible it would be if the Rohingya camp was not occupied. This will enable the concerned agencies to be more involved in the fight against the infection as well as to increase the healthcare infrastructure and capacity.
Paul Spiegel, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health and professor of international health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, said: But I am more interested in understanding why that happened. It's not that we haven't done much research. The problem is that there is not enough information for him. 'He said it was possible that a different type of coronavirus was spreading among the Rohingya. However, so far there is no evidence.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the United States released three models of the risk of infection in Rohingya camps last June.
It said at least 4 lakh 21 thousand 500 Rohingyas could be infected in a year. More than 2,000 Rohingya may die.
However, as of October 2, out of 261 people, Corona was identified.
From the very beginning of the transition, special attention was paid to the Rohingya camps. Mushtaq Hossain, a consultant at the government's Institute of Pathology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said this was the main reason for the relatively low incidence of infections. He said there is international support here. However, the health department was very careful from the beginning and took action. Cholera has been reported there before. There is still an experience in the health department.
The country's experts are also monitoring the infection situation in the Rohingya camps. However, so far no research has been done on the reasons for the low rate of infection among the Rohingya. A study conducted by IEDCR and ICDRB in Dhaka found that 6 percent of the people in the slums of the capital are affected. And 9 percent of the residents outside the slums are affected. In other words, relatively few people are being affected in the slums. However, the reason was not known.
Former Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Professor Nazrul Islam has made his own hypothesis based on that research. He said in the first light, the overall condition of the Rohingya camps is comparable to the slums of the capital. He thinks that a large part of the people in the slums are infected with the virus that causes respiratory diseases. If a virus is active in the respiratory system, it is difficult for another virus to become active. Infections in slums or Rohingya camps may be one of the reasons for the relatively low. However, it cannot be said for sure that this is what is happening. This requires further research.
