The government has made the dengue NS1 test free at all public hospitals until December 31 this year to encourage early diagnosis amid the ongoing outbreak.

The Health Services Division issued the directive yesterday, instructing the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to take the necessary steps to ensure the test is provided free of charge at government hospitals through the end of this year.

The NS1 test, used to detect dengue infection in its early stages, previously cost Tk 50 at government hospitals. It has also been offered free during previous periods of high dengue transmission.

The government has fixed the maximum charge for the test at Tk 300 in private hospitals.

"We made the test free earlier when dengue cases surged, and we have taken the same decision again to encourage people to get tested early," Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan, director (hospitals and clinics) at the DGHS, told The Daily Star today.

June saw a sharp rise in dengue infections and fatalities, accounting for 48 percent of all reported cases and 72 percent of deaths recorded so far this year.

Health experts have warned that both infections and fatalities could increase further in July and August, the peak monsoon months, unless efforts are intensified to control dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes.