The number of patients admitted to hospitals in Chittagong with measles symptoms is rising daily, but neither public nor private hospitals in the city have facilities to test for and confirm the disease.
As a result, samples from suspected cases must be sent to the National Polio and Measles-Rubella Laboratory (NPML) in Dhaka, delaying diagnosis and complicating treatment management.
The Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) in Sitakunda, Chittagong, has a laboratory capable of detecting measles. However, testing is not currently being conducted there, leaving the Chittagong health department dependent on Dhaka.
According to the District Civil Surgeon’s Office, another 70 patients with measles symptoms were admitted to hospitals in Chittagong in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of patients admitted with such symptoms to 7,941.
Eighteen people have died in the region. Of them, 15 died while undergoing treatment after showing measles symptoms, while three had tested positive for the disease.
So far, samples from 1,960 people—1,645 from the city and 315 from the district—have been sent to the NPML in Dhaka. Most of the test reports have already been received.
Chittagong Divisional Health Officer Dr Sekh Fazle Rabbi told Bangla Tribune that laboratory testing is not currently being conducted for measles in Chittagong.
“Measles is not currently being diagnosed through laboratory testing in Chittagong. Testing is not necessary in every case, as doctors can identify the disease based on symptoms. However, in accordance with government policy, patients seeking treatment with these symptoms are being treated for measles,” he said.
He added: “For patients who wish to undergo testing, samples are collected and sent to the National Polio and Measles-Rubella Laboratory (NPML) in Dhaka. Reports are received within two to three days.”
Saifuddin, a resident of Raozan Upazila, said he had his three-month-old daughter tested at a private laboratory late last month after she developed measles symptoms on a doctor’s advice.
“The sample was sent to Dhaka. The test cost Tk4,500, and it took a week to receive the report,” he said.
He added: “Although my daughter had symptoms, the doctor could not definitively confirm measles, which is why the test was ordered. Measles testing is expensive. Since the test is not available in Chittagong, there is a delay in getting results, which can cause a patient’s condition to deteriorate.”
Jamal Uddin, a resident of Jamal Khan under Kotwali police station, said: “Despite Chittagong being the country’s second-most populous city, measles testing facilities have not been established here. Yet 50 to 70 people are admitted to hospitals every day with measles symptoms. Beyond those hospitalized, many more are receiving treatment at home.”
BITID lacks testing kits
The Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID), established in 2013 at Faujdarhat in Chittagong, is equipped to treat various infectious diseases, including measles and rubella.
The institute has real-time PCR and ELISA machines, as well as Rudolf Merieux laboratory facilities, including GeneXpert for tuberculosis detection and automated blood analyzers.
Professor Dr Mamunur Rashid of BITID told Bangla Tribune that doctors can diagnose measles based on its characteristic symptoms.
“The three primary symptoms are high fever, coughing and a rash. Typically, the rash begins around the face and ears before spreading to other parts of the body. The presence of these symptoms generally indicates a measles infection,” he said.
He added: “BITID’s laboratory is capable of conducting measles tests, but we currently do not have the necessary kits for measles-rubella testing. A request for the kits has been sent to Dhaka. Testing can begin once the kits and necessary approvals are received.”