Despite a rise in patients with measles symptoms in Chittagong, testing remains unavailable at both government and private facilities due to a shortage of kits. As a result, patient samples are being sent to Dhaka for diagnosis.
Although the Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) in Sitakunda has a laboratory capable of detecting measles, it is currently unable to conduct tests due to the lack of necessary kits.
According to the Chittagong District Civil Surgeon’s Office, four new measles cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours on Friday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the district to 12.
During the same period, 16 people were admitted to hospitals with measles-like symptoms, raising the total number of hospitalised patients to 87. No suspected cases were reported from the upazilas during this time.
A total of 32 samples were collected in the last 24 hours and sent to the National Polio and Measles-Rubella Laboratory (NPML) in Dhaka. So far, 155 samples from Chittagong—70 from the city and 85 from different upazilas—have been sent for testing.
Chittagong Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam said samples are being sent to Dhaka as testing is not currently being conducted locally.
“Reports usually arrive within two to three days,” he said, adding that local testing may be considered if the outbreak worsens.
However, patients and their families have expressed concern over delays. A guardian of a child admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital said it takes three to four days to receive test results, delaying treatment.
Established in 2013 in Fauzdarhat, BITID is equipped with modern facilities, including real-time PCR and ELISA machines, and can test for various infectious diseases such as measles and rubella.
BITID Professor Dr Mamunur Rashid said that measles is usually diagnosed clinically based on symptoms.
“About 99% of cases can be identified through symptoms such as high fever, cough and rash, which typically begin around the mouth and ears before spreading,” he said.
He added that although testing is technically possible at BITID, the absence of measles-rubella testing kits has halted operations.
“We have already requested the necessary kits from Dhaka. Testing can begin once the kits and approval are received,” he added.