Dhaka, May 7 (IANS). Measles outbreak is continuously increasing in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, there is a severe shortage of testing kits in the Institute of Public Health located in Mohakhali, the only lab that tests measles in the entire country. The situation has become more serious due to delay in essential purchases.
According to reports, if new kits do not arrive on time, measles testing may stop across the country after May 11. This will make it difficult to find out how many people are actually infected.
According to the report of Bangladeshi daily ‘Dhaka Tribune’, this lab tests about 300 samples coming from all over the country every day. Officials say that if testing continues at this pace and new kits are not found, the situation could worsen rapidly.
Experts say that the outbreak of measles has now reached a very worrying level. He believes that if it is officially declared an epidemic, then a uniform system for treatment can be implemented and health workers can be better deployed at the ground level.
Also, with more testing, infected people can be identified quickly, the spread of infection can be prevented by keeping them isolated and treatment can also be provided on time.
Citing sources at the institute, ‘Dhaka Tribune’ reported that measles testing kits are provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). About 90 people can be tested with one kit. Due to shortage of kits, it is not possible to increase testing and many samples are lying untested.
By Monday, the lab had only seven testing kits left, but in the next two days that stock was also almost exhausted.
Virologist Mehbooba Jamil said, “It is difficult to tell the exact number right now, but the kits are getting exhausted very fast. We have informed WHO about this. They say that it may take one to one and a half weeks for the new kits to arrive. Till then we will have to make do with the remaining kits.”
Institute director Mominur Rahman also expressed concern over the shortage of kits. He said, “A request for kits was sent to WHO about a month ago, but the supply has not been received yet. It is expected that the kits will be received by May 15. At present, testing is going on with the remaining kits.”
Meanwhile, doctors have warned that due to delay in treatment, serious problems like difficulty in breathing, lack of oxygen in the body, swelling in the brain, prolonged diarrhea and seizures are increasing in children. This may also increase the risk of death.
Public health expert Mushtaq Hussain said, “Only when it became clear that the situation of measles was serious, a public health emergency should have been declared. This would have improved treatment facilities and also increased awareness among the people.”
He also said that there is a need to immediately run a large-scale vaccination campaign, increase treatment facilities at the upazila level and make adequate arrangements for essential medical equipment including oxygen. Vaccination is more important than kits. The work of the kits is only to find out the number of patients, but the vaccine is most effective in preventing infection.
More than 300 people have died so far in this measles outbreak in Bangladesh. Experts say that if steps are not taken in time, the infection can spread rapidly, because one infected person can spread the disease to 16 to 18 people.
–IANS
AY/ABM