The Boeing 739-900ER uses the same door plug design as the 737 MAX-9 that was grounded after the door of an Alaska Airlines plane blew out mid-flight. Boeing said it supports the new recommendation. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new recommendation for airlines to check the door plugs on Boeing 737-900ER models after some operators reported issues with bolts during inspections.     The Boeing 737-900ER is separate to the 737 MAX-9 model that was grounded after a door blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, but its fuselage features the same door plugs where an emergency exit would be if a plane had more seats. The FAA issued the new "safety alert for operators" late on Sunday after some airlines conducted their own checks "and have noted findings with bolts during the maintenance inspections."   It recommended that airlines perform key maintenance procedures related to the four bolts "as soon as possible." Boeing said in an email to Reuters that "we fully support the FAA and our customers in this action."     Airlines expect no disruptions According to Boeing, 505 of the 737-900ER models have been delivered worldwide. Three US airlines operate the vast majority of the fleet: Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Delta said it "elected to take proactive measures to inspect our 737-900ER fleet" and does not anticipate any operational impacts. United also said its inspections are due "to be completed in the next few days without disruption to our customers." Alaska Airlines said it began inspections several days ago and has no findings to date. It expects "to complete the remainder of our 900ER fleet without disruption to our operations."

A new variant of the coronavirus called BA.2.86 has been detected in Germany for the first time, the Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) said on Wednesday. In its weekly report, the federal government agency said the variant, also known as Pirola, had been found in the week leading up to August 27. Acute respiratory infections have been on the rise in Germany since July, the RKI further reported. What do we know about new variant? BA.2.86 has so far been detected in several countries, including Denmark, the USA, the UK and Israel. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled BA.2.86 one of seven "variants under monitoring," the lowest of three tiers in the UN body's tracking system. Is COVID making a comeback? Last week, the WHO warned of "concerning trends for COVID-19 ahead of the winter season in the northern hemisphere" at a virtual press conference. It said a new Coronavirus variant called EG.5, also known as Eris, was on the rise globally. The WHO has categorized it as a "variant of interest" – one above BA.2.86, but not yet a  "variant of concern." Data on Coronavirus infections is currently limited as many countries have stopped reporting deaths and hospitalizations. Experts warn that it is vital nations continue to report Covid-related statistics. Experts say it is notable because it shows multiple differences from previous versions of the Coronavirus. This may affect how immunized or vaccinated people react to it. "BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines," according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preliminary data suggests vaccines will give protection against it, the WHO says.

The South African Omicron variant is gradually taking the place of Delta variant of Covid-19 across the country.      In a health bulletin today (Jan 23), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) spokesperson Prof Dr Nazmul Islam said 73 percent of people detected with the  Omicron variant of Covid-19 showed symptom of runny nose while 68 percent have headache, 64 percent have fatigue, and 60 percent have sneezing.   Sixty percent of the patients showed symptom of sore throat and 44 percent have cough, he added. Source: BSS AH

To prevent the highly contagious new African COVID-19 variant Omicron, the government has imposed fresh 11-point restriction which will come into effect from January 13 (Thursday).   The Cabinet Division issued a notification to this end today.    The notification said considering the current situation of Omicron infections and the decisions taken by the COVID-19 situation review committee, the restrictions on the overall activities and movement are going to be imposed from January 13.    The restrictions will remain effective until further notice.   Mask use has been made mandatory in shops, shopping malls, bazaars, hotels and restaurants and all public gatherings. If one violates the rules, legal action will be taken against him or her.    All must use masks in offices and courts or outside of homes. If the health guidelines are not followed, mobile courts will have to be conducted across the country, the notification said.    COVID-19 vaccine certificates must be shown in taking food at restaurants or staying at hotels.    Without vaccine certificate, a student above 12 years will not be allowed to enter education institutions after the specific timeframe set by the Education Ministry.    Scanning facility must be increased at land ports, seaports and airports. Restriction must be imposed on the exits of crews of ships at ports. Only drivers of trucks will be allowed at land ports. The access of the visitors accompanying passengers must be stopped at airports.    Trains, buses and launches can carry passengers of their half capacity. The authorities will issue specific instructions in this regard with the date of implementation. Drivers and helpers of all types of vehicles must have COVID-19 vaccine certificates.    Home-bound passengers and others concerned must show COVID-19 vaccine certificates.    Imams will aware people concerned of the health safety guidelines and mask use in their sermons of Jummah prayers in all mosques. Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers will ensure this matter.    The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will take necessary publicity and other measures in accelerating COVID-19 vaccination and its booster dose inoculation. In this regard, it will take assistance from of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.   All social, political and religious functions will remain closed at open space until further notice. Source: BSS AH

The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) today placed four-point recommendations to prevent  the highly contagious new African  COVID-19 variant named Omicron.    The recommendations were made at a meeting of the committee as the new South African variant was detected recently, an official release said.  At the meeting, the committee members said the new African  COVID-19 variant Omicron has spread in several countries of South Africa and Europe.   The World Health Organization on Friday (November 26) declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain of Covid-19, first detected in southern Africa, to be a variant of concern.  A number of countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and America have already imposed travel bans with the countries infected by the new variant of COVID-19.  The recommendations are as follows:  1.   Bangladesh has to issue travel ban with those countries, where a new variant Omicron was detected.  2.   Passengers must be kept for 14 days institutional quarantine, if they have recent travel history in those countries infected by the new South African variant.  3.   Screening at all gateways including air, land and waterways must be strengthened alongside improving the healthcare system and limiting public gatherings.  4.   COVID-19 test should be conducted at free of cost for encouraging the people to receive testing facilities to halt outbreak of the newly discovered coronavirus variant.  On November 27,  Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said Bangladesh remains alert to prevent the highly contagious new African COVID-19 variant Omicron.  On November 25 (Thursday) scientists in South Africa said they had detected a new Covid-19 variant (Omicron) with multiple mutations.     The World Health Organization on Friday (November 26) declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain of Covid-19, first detected in southern Africa, to be a variant of concern and renamed it Omicron.      The classification puts Omicron into the most-troubling category of Covid-19 variants, along with the globally-dominant Delta, plus its weaker rivals Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Source: BSS AH

The World Health Organization has said it is monitoring a new coronavirus variant known as "Mu", which was first identified in Colombia in January.   Mu, known scientifically as B.1.621, has been classified as a "variant of interest", the global health body said Tuesday in its weekly pandemic bulletin.    The WHO said the variant has mutations that indicate a risk of resistance to vaccines and stressed that further studies were needed to better understand it.   "The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape," the bulletin said.   There is widespread concern over the emergence of new virus mutations as infection rates are ticking up globally again, with the highly transmissible Delta variant taking hold -- especially among the unvaccinated -- and in regions where anti-virus measures have been relaxed.   All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19, mutate over time and most mutations have little or no effect on the properties of the virus.    But certain mutations can impact the properties of a virus and influence how easily it spreads, the severity of the disease it causes, and its resistance to vaccines, drugs and other countermeasures.   The WHO currently identifies four Covid-19 variants of concern, including Alpha, which is present in 193 countries, and Delta, present in 170 countries.   Five variants, including Mu, are to be monitored.   After being detected in Colombia, Mu has since been reported in other South American countries and in Europe.   The WHO said its global prevalence has declined to below 0.1 percent among sequenced cases. In Colombia, however, it is at 39 percent. Source: AFP/BSS AH

Johnson and Johnson's single-shot Covid-19 vaccine is effective against the highly contagious Delta variant, with an immune response lasting at least eight months, the company said Thursday. The antibodies and immune system cells in the blood of eight people vaccinated with the J&J jab effectively neutralized the Delta strain, which was first identified in India, researchers found. A second study with 20 vaccinated patients at Boston's Beth Israel Medical Center had similar results. The data was sent to bioRxiv, a free online site for unpublished scientific preprints where authors "are able to make their findings immediately available to the scientific community and receive feedback on draft manuscripts before they are submitted to journals," according to the site. "We believe that our vaccine offers durable protection against COVID-19 and elicits neutralizing activity against the Delta variant," said Paul Stoffels, J&J's chief scientific officer, in a company statement. Mathai Mammen, head of Janssen Research & Development at Johnson & Johnson, said that data "for the eight months studied so far" shows that J&J's single-shot vaccine "generates a strong neutralizing antibody response that does not wane; rather, we observe an improvement over time." The Delta variant tore through in India in April and May and has since spread around the world. A report by the European Union's disease control agency ECDC estimated the more contagious strain could account for 90 percent of new cases in the EU by the end of August. Source: AFP/BSS AH

At least 10 people have been detected with coronavirus ‘delta’ variant (earlier it was called Indian variant) at Nababganj upazila in Dhaka district. They came there from Chapainawabganj district to work under Ashrayan project. Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer confirmed the information on Saturday. He said, the infected ten persons work as laborers. They came to Nababganj boarded on a truck from Chapainawabganj on May 18 to work in Ashrayan project. After getting the information the upazila authority collected their samples and sent those to the chest disease hospital in Dhaka on May 26. They are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Dr. Shahidul confirmed that Indian variant of coronavirus has been detected with their samples. AH   

In Bangladesh 13 people have been detected with coronavirus Indian variant. It was known that of the 13 people seven are from Chapainawabganj district. The news of this type of detection was published on German global information database GISAID. It was known that of the infected 13 people five have recently returned after visiting India. And the rest eight people were infected while staying in Bangladesh. IEDCR has collected the samples from these persons. On May 8 Indian variant of coronavirus (B.1617.2) was detected with two persons for the first time in Bangladesh. Both of them have recently visited India. So far five coronavirus variants have been detected in the country. These are variants of UK, Brazil, India, South Africa and Nigeria. AH

Bangladesh is in the risk of spreading Indian variant coronavirus. This type of deadly virus is being detected one by one in the country. In this regard Professor Dr. Md. Robed Amin, Director (Line Director NCDC) of health directorate has said that full transmission may start anytime across Bangladesh. He delivered the information through the health directorate bulletin on Wednesday. Professor Dr. Md. Robed Amin said, masks have to be worn all the time to prevent the Indian variant. As well as social distancing has to be ensured. Everybody has to be conscious. Virus transmission has decreased as the initiatives of controlling movement of people and transport came out as fruitful in this corona situation. But there is no reason to be satisfied. He said, Indian variant has turned into devastating look in India. Each day over four thousand people are dying there. This Indian variant may start full transmission in our country. Professor Robed Amin also said, Indian variant’s transmission rate is high. There are risks of spreading the virus across the country. So, we have kept our hospitals ready. AH