Returned from Bandarban with fever, seizure, Prof Jothi dies after 3 days in coma

After remaining in a coma for three days, Jakia Sultana Jothi, a teacher at Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), has died.

Jothi, 36, was a professor in the Department of Food Processing and Engineering under the Faculty of Food Science and Technology at CVASU. She passed away on Thursday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Chattogram.

Colleagues said Jothi had travelled to Bandarban about two weeks ago. After returning, she suffered from fever for two days, then lost consciousness after having seizures. Medical tests later showed that her brain had been damaged.

Doctors suspect that she had been infected with the Japanese Encephalitis virus. A physician involved in her treatment said she had symptoms consistent with those seen in infected patients.

Chattogram Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said that since she had visited Bandarban two weeks earlier, she could have contracted any mosquito-borne disease there. It is not yet possible to confirm whether it was malaria or Japanese Encephalitis.

However, doctors said her malaria test result had come back negative.

Professor Shirin Akter, a colleague of Jothi’s at CVASU, told bdnews24.com:

 “Jothi developed a fever on Saturday night. On Sunday, she had fever, diarrhoea, and vomiting. Around midnight on Sunday, she suddenly began having breathing difficulties. She went and admitted herself to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

“She did not get a bed there and had to opt for the floor. Since it was not possible to stay there, she was transferred around 2am to Metropolitan Hospital. At about 6am on Monday, she suffered severe seizures. Her hands and feet became twisted, and she lost consciousness. She was then taken to the ICU.”

Describing her condition that day, Shirin said: “At first, doctors suspected malaria. But after an MRI on Monday morning, they found her brain had been damaged. Because of the rapid deterioration of her condition, the brain injury, and other symptoms, doctors believed it might be Japanese Encephalitis.”

“Her condition worsened further on Monday. At one point she suffered a heart attack and went into a coma. Later that evening, she was admitted to Evercare Hospital. Initially she showed some response while on artificial ventilation, but later she stopped responding altogether. Doctors there declared her dead early Thursday morning.”

Dr Kawsarul Alam of Metropolitan Hospital’s ICU said: “She had fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. Her MRI report clearly showed changes in the brain. She had suffered a brain stroke.

“Two senior medicine specialists also examined her and concluded that, based on her symptoms, she had contracted the Japanese Encephalitis virus. Her rapid decline and the type of brain damage strongly indicate infection by this virus.”

Dr Kawsarul said, “She had travelled to Bandarban two weeks ago. Knowing this, we first conducted a malaria detection test, but the result was negative.”

When asked, Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam told bdnews24.com:

 “We have heard of the case. She had a history of travel to Bandarban. We have requested all test reports from Metropolitan Hospital to confirm whether it was malaria. Travellers to Bandarban sometimes contract malaria.”

Responding to another question, he said: “Japanese Encephalitis is also a mosquito-borne virus. That could also be the cause. It is not possible to confirm anything right now. We are investigating and will inform you once confirmed.”

Jothi’s body was taken to her in-laws’ home in Mymensingh on Thursday. She was laid to rest there that night.

She completed her postgraduate studies at Bangladesh Agricultural University and later earned a PhD from Hiroshima University in Japan. Her husband, Prof Shahriar Hashem Arnob, is also a teacher at Bangladesh Agricultural University. The couple had a five-year-old child.

Her sudden demise has cast a shadow of grief among her colleagues, students, and classmates. CVASU Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Lutfor Rahman also expressed his condolences.