Background: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) contamination of retail chicken meat is a significant cause of public health concern among susceptible groups like children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Objectives: The current research was conducted to identify the prevalence, genotypic pattern and drug resistance of multidrug‐resistant EPEC (MDR‐EPEC) in chicken meat during January to June 2024 in Kuliarchar and Bhairab upazilas, Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 140 retail chicken meat samples were collected from Kuliarchar and Bhairab upazilas between January and June 2024. The isolates were confirmed by primary culture, biochemical reactions, and molecular confirmation by PCR employing phoA and eaeA genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using disk diffusion as per the CLSI 2020 standard. Results: Overall prevalence of E. coli was 68.6% (95% CI: 60.2–76.2) and was found to be higher in Bhairab (81.6%) compared to Kuliarchar (47.2%). 8.6% of these were found to be EPEC. All the retrieved EPEC were resistant to ampicillin, and 91.7% were resistant to ceftazidime and gentamicin. Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antimicrobials. All EPEC isolates ( n = 12) exhibited resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes and were therefore classified as multidrug‐resistant. Genotypic analysis showed high prevalence of bla _{TEM‐1, 2} (91.7%), bla _SHV‐1 (66.7%), bla _{OXA‐1, 4 & 30} (33.3%), with aac(3)‐iv (83.3%), sul1 (41.7%) and tet(A) (25.0%), indicating widespread β‐lactam and gentamicin resistance in EPEC. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was 0.40–0.50, which indicated exposure to high antibiotic pressure. Conclusions: The findings justify stricter food safety controls, effective use of antibiotics and proper hygiene to provide for the avoidance of the dissemination of MDR‐EPEC through infected chicken meat and public health safety.

Background and Aims: Scabies remains a major cause of morbidity among Bangladeshi children, particularly in overcrowded and resource‐limited settings. This perspective synthesizes current evidence to contextualize the surge of pediatric scabies outbreaks reported across Bangladesh in 2025. This perspective aimed to map outbreak hotspots, identify key risk determinants, and highlight health system gaps in surveillance and diagnosis, and therapeutic management of scabies. Methods: Evidence was compiled from published literature, national health data, WHO reports, media alerts, interviews with 50 registered dermatologists, and ArcGIS‐based visualization of affected regions. Results: Outbreaks were widespread across urban slums, religious school (Madrasa), Rohingya refugee camps, university dormitories, flood‐affected districts, rural communities and multiple districts including Cumilla, Barisal, Noakhali, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Khulna, Mymensingh, and Cox's Bazar driven by poverty, overcrowding, poor sanitation, seasonal humidity, and limited access to dermatologic care. Treatment practices reported by surveyed physicians revealed that 5% permethrin cream remains the first‐line therapy, while oral ivermectin is increasingly used for severe, recurrent outbreaks, although availability and affordability remain inconsistent across districts. Reinfection rates in institutional settings and the absence of national surveillance systems further complicate control efforts. Conclusion: This perspective emphasizes the urgent need for integrated strategies, including strengthened surveillance, improved treatment access, community‐based hygiene interventions, and alignment with WHO's NTD roadmap. Strengthening these components is essential to reduce pediatric morbidity, prevent complications, and enhance Bangladesh's progress toward effective scabies control.

Background: Animal bites represent a significant public health concern due to the risk of injuries and transmission of zoonotic diseases such as Rabies, particularly in low and lower- middle-income countries (LMICs). Understanding the epidemiological characteristics of animal bite incidents is essential for improving the prevention and control strategies. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological patterns and characteristics of animal bite cases in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Methodology/Principal findings: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 6,565 animal bite cases reported between January 1 and December 31, 2024, in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Data on demographic characteristics, type of biting animal, site of bite, and exposure category were collected and analyzed to determine associations using correlation analyses and chi-square tests. Among the victims, 3,917 (60%) were male and 2,648 (40%) were female and young adults aged 20–39 years comprised the largest group (39% of cases). The majority of cases (88.1%) originated from urban areas within Sylhet City Corporation. Cats were the leading cause of bites (56.6%), followed by dogs (35.0%) and monkeys (7.5%), suggesting a shift from the traditional dog-dominated pattern. The most frequently affected anatomical sites were the legs (50.3%) and hands (40.9%). Most exposures were classified as World Health Organization (WHO) Category II (98.2%). Bite incidents showed moderate seasonal variation, with peaks in spring and early autumn. A significant declining temporal trend was observed for monkey bites (R = −0.59, p = 0.044), whereas cat and dog bite patterns remained relatively stable throughout the year. Significant associations were identified between bite site and age group, as well as between biting animal and demographic characteristics ( p < 0.05). Conclusion/Significance: These findings highlight the epidemiological patterns of animal bites in Sylhet and emphasize the need for strengthened public awareness, surveillance, and preventive strategies to reduce animal bite incidents and associated zoonotic disease risks. Synnopsis: A large-scale retrospective analysis of 6,565 animal bite cases revealed a cat-dominant bite pattern (56.6%), contrasting with the traditional dog-dominant paradigm in South Asia. Young adults (20–39 years) and males (60%) were disproportionately affected, reflecting occupational and behavioral exposure risks. Urban residents (88.1%) accounted for the majority of cases, highlighting the growing public health burden of animal bites in rapidly urbanizing settings. The most frequently affected anatomical sites were the legs (50.3%) and hands (40.9%). Bite incidents showed moderate seasonal variation, with peaks in spring and early autumn. Category II exposures (98.2%) predominated, indicating a high burden of seemingly minor injuries that may be underestimated in rabies prevention strategies.

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have become pervasive environmental contaminants, raising growing concern regarding their potential accumulation within the human body and associated health risks. MP particles can translocate into systemic circulation and multiple organs, necessitating a comprehensive evaluation of current human biomonitoring data. This comprehensive review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the occurrence, distribution, detection technologies, exposure reduction and potential health implications of microplastics in human biological samples. The reviewed literature confirms the presence of microplastics in blood, placenta, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, breast milk, semen, urine, and selected tissues including cardiovascular, renal, and reproductive samples. Detection frequencies in some matrices exceeded 70–90%, with polymer types such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate most commonly identified. Reported particle sizes ranged from nanometer-scale fragments to particles over 100 µm, indicating both systemic circulation and potential tissue retention. Spectroscopic techniques such as μFTIR and μRaman dominate polymer identification, while thermoanalytical approaches such as Py-GC/MS provide quantitative polymer confirmation. Emerging evidence suggests associations with oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, endothelial dysfunction, and impaired reproductive parameters, although causal relationships remain uncertain due to methodological heterogeneity and limited longitudinal data. This review provides an integrated overview of current human exposure evidence, identifies analytical gaps, and highlights the urgent need for harmonized detection frameworks and longitudinal risk assessment studies to inform public health policy and future biomonitoring strategies.