Dhaka, May 8: The measles outbreak in Bangladesh is escalating rapidly. The only laboratory capable of conducting measles tests, located at the Institute of Public Health in Mohakhali, is facing a severe shortage of testing kits. Delays in necessary procurement have exacerbated the situation.
Reports indicate that if new kits do not arrive on time, testing for measles may cease across the country after May 11. This will make it challenging to determine the actual number of infections.
According to the Bangladeshi daily ‘Dhaka Tribune,’ this lab tests approximately 300 samples daily from across the nation. Officials warn that if testing continues at this pace without new kits, conditions could deteriorate swiftly.
Experts express that the measles outbreak has reached a concerning level. They believe that if it is officially declared a pandemic, a uniform treatment protocol could be implemented, allowing health workers to be deployed more effectively on the ground.
Increased testing would enable quicker identification of infected individuals, allowing for isolation to prevent further spread and timely treatment.
The ‘Dhaka Tribune’ reports that the testing kits are supplied by the World Health Organization (WHO), with one kit capable of testing about 90 individuals. Due to the shortage of kits, expanding testing is not feasible, leaving many samples untested.
As of Monday, the lab had only seven testing kits remaining, and that stock is expected to run out within two days.
Virologist Mahbuba Jameel stated, “It is currently difficult to provide an accurate count, but the kits are depleting rapidly. We have informed the WHO, and they indicated that new kits may take one to one and a half weeks to arrive. Until then, we will have to manage with the remaining kits.”
The institute’s director, Mominur Rahman, also expressed concern over the kit shortage. He mentioned that a request for kits was sent to the WHO about a month ago, but supplies have yet to arrive. He hopes that kits will be received by May 15, and testing will continue with the remaining stock.
Meanwhile, doctors have warned that delays in treatment could lead to severe issues in children, including breathing difficulties, oxygen deficiency, brain swelling, prolonged diarrhea, and seizures, increasing the risk of death.
Public health expert Mushtaq Hussain stated, “A public health emergency should have been declared as soon as it became clear that the measles situation was serious. This would have improved treatment facilities and raised public awareness.”
He also emphasized the urgent need for a large-scale vaccination campaign, enhanced treatment facilities at the sub-district level, and adequate arrangements for essential medical supplies, including oxygen. Vaccination is more critical than testing kits, as kits only help identify patient numbers, while vaccines are the most effective in preventing the spread of infection.
So far, over 300 deaths have been reported due to the measles outbreak in Bangladesh. Experts warn that without timely intervention, the infection could spread rapidly, as one infected person can transmit the disease to 16 to 18 others.
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