At the laboratory of the Institute of Public Health in Mohakhali, measles testing is conducted for the entire country, with no such facility available elsewhere.
Since April, the laboratory has been facing a severe shortage of testing kits. However, due to a lack of urgent action, new supplies have yet to be secured. As a result, if fresh kits do not arrive, all measles sample testing across the country may come to a halt after May 11, making it difficult to determine the actual number of infections.
On average, around 300 samples from patients across the country arrive daily at the institute. Officials warn that if testing continues at this pace without new supplies, the situation will quickly become critical.
Experts say the measles situation has already reached an alarming level. Declaring it an epidemic and introducing a coordinated treatment protocol could enable authorities to train and deploy health workers at the field level. At the same time, expanding testing coverage would help identify patients, isolate them, and ensure timely treatment.
According to sources at the institute, measles testing kits are supplied by the World Health Organization. Each kit can test samples from 90 patients. Due to the shortage, testing capacity cannot be increased and is instead being prioritized, meaning many samples are being left untested.
Until last Monday, seven kits were available, which were used over two days. Virologist Mahbuba Jamil said: “It is not possible to state the exact number now, but the kits are running low. We have informed WHO, and they have said it will take one to one and a half weeks. In the meantime, we have to continue working with the existing kits.”
She added: “Because kits are limited, testing is being conducted on a priority basis so that they do not run out completely. Even from hotspot areas, fewer samples are arriving than before.”
Director of the institute Mominur Rahman said: “A requisition for kits was sent to WHO about a month ago, but we have not received them yet. We hope to receive them around May 15. Testing is currently continuing with the remaining kits.”
Public health expert Dr Tajul Islam Bari said: “The responsibility for supplying kits lies with WHO. They have received funds from Gavi and UNICEF. Kits should have been supplied promptly. The government and UNICEF should put pressure on WHO in this regard.”
Paediatric specialists said delays in treatment are leading to complications among children, including breathing difficulties, oxygen deficiency, brain inflammation, prolonged diarrhoea and convulsions, increasing the risk of death. They noted that introducing testing at district and divisional levels would enable rapid diagnosis and treatment while reducing pressure on Dhaka.
Doctors said child deaths from pneumonia are not new in the country, but effective initiatives to reduce mortality have long been lacking. There is also a shortage of infrastructure and equipment at the district level.
Public health expert Mushtaq Husain said: “After identifying the measles situation as high risk, a public health emergency should have been declared. This would have ensured services as well as increased public awareness.”
He added that strengthening emergency vaccination, increasing treatment capacity at the upazila level, and ensuring oxygen and other essential equipment are now critical. “Vaccination is more important than kits. Kits are mainly used to determine the number of patients, but vaccination is effective in controlling transmission,” he said.
Director of the hospital branch of the Directorate General of Health Services, Moinul Ahsan, said: “WHO has said that kits will be arranged within one or two days. Although supplies have decreased, there is no crisis yet. Sample testing has not stopped.”
About 93% of children under vaccination coverage
According to the Directorate General of Health Services, measles infection was first detected in the country on March 15 this year. As cases rose, WHO on April 24 identified Bangladesh as a high-risk country. A special vaccination programme began on April 5 in 30 upazilas across 18 districts. On April 12, it was launched in several areas, including Dhaka North and South City Corporations, and from April 20 it was expanded nationwide.
Under the emergency program, the target was to vaccinate 18 million children. Of these, 16.8 million—around 93%—have already been vaccinated.
Superintendent of the Infectious Diseases Hospital Dr FA Asma Khan said: “Most infected children develop breathing difficulties. If pneumonia is present, they become even weaker. In many cases, guardians bring children to doctors late, which increases the severity of the disease.”
Infection situation
In the last 24 hours, seven children have died across the country from measles and related symptoms. During the same period, 1,281 new children showed symptoms.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services, since March 15, a total of 268 children have died with symptoms, while 56 deaths have been confirmed through diagnosis. Overall, 44,260 children have shown symptoms, and 30,885 have been hospitalized. Of them, 27,223 have recovered and returned home.