Measles cases continue to surge across Bangladesh, with the test positivity rate rising to 61.12 per cent among samples tested in the past week at the National Polio and Measles Laboratory of the Institute of Public Health.
The lone World Health Organization-accredited laboratory tested 1,483 samples over the past week until Friday and found 907 positive cases.
At least 786 healthcare facilities across the country sent samples to the laboratory for measles confirmation.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Services reported that 16 more children died with measles symptoms and 1,434 others were infected in the 24 hours leading up to 8:00am on Sunday.
With the latest figures, the cumulative death toll—both confirmed measles deaths and deaths with measles-like symptoms—has risen to 528, while total infections stand at 72,435 since March 15.
Of these, 86 deaths have been confirmed as measles, while 8,622 cases were laboratory-confirmed, as all suspected cases were not tested.
Public health experts warned that measles transmission may further intensify as large-scale population movement is expected ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, which will be celebrated on May 28.
DGHS officials acknowledged that the highly contagious virus could worsen the situation, but said there was no scope for a shutdown.
Earlier, laboratory officials reported a positivity rate of up to 54 per cent in the first week of April after testing 222 samples.
Institute of Public Health scientific officer Mahbuba Jamil said that in the past years the test positivity rate was bellow four per cent.
Officials said the laboratory has been unable to test all samples due to shortages of reagents supplied by the World Health Organization.
According to laboratory data, the WHO has so far provided 200 kits in total, with each kit capable of testing up to 90 samples. The laboratory ran out of kits last week but later received 100 more kits from the WHO on Thursday.
Previously, the WHO supplied 30 kits on May 16 and 70 kits in two instalments in April.
DGHS director (disease control) Professor Dr Md Halimur Rashid said that since only selected samples were being tested, the positivity rate appeared higher.
He added that testing was not critically important as hospitals manage patients with measles symptoms as suspected cases.
He expressed optimism that the situation would improve following the nationwide vaccination campaign, which began on April 5 and is going on.
The DGHS claimed that more than two crore children aged between six and 59 months have been vaccinated, reporting coverage of 102 per cent in rural areas and 106 per cent in urban areas.
However, public health expert Professor Abu Jamil Faisal said that despite the government’s vaccination campaign, a significant number of children remain outside coverage.
‘If an infected child comes into contact with others, the risk of transmission increases,’ he said, warning that measles cases could rise further.
He urged stronger awareness campaigns for guardians to protect children from infection.
He also noted that gaps in immunisation micro planning continue to be a concern, even during outbreak periods.
Experts said that the parents should maintain some preventive measures like wiring mask, maintaining distance and hygiene.
