Bangladesh Receives Around 500,000 Dengue Test Kits from US Amid Rising Cases

Amid a rise in dengue infections and hospitalisations in Bangladesh, the US government has provided 500,000 Dengue NS1 Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to help facilitate the rapid detection of dengue cases.

The test kits were provided through the STRIDES Programme, funded by the US government, and were handed over on October 1 at Kurmitola Multicare Specialised Hospital in Dhaka. US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Trishita Maula handed over the kits to Bangladesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain.

The health minister instructed the relevant authorities to distribute the test kits as quickly as possible to district- and upazila-level hospitals across the country based on local needs.

The kits will initially be stored at the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) before being distributed through the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to district and upazila-level hospitals, according to the minister.

According to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the country currently has sufficient supplies of dengue antigen test kits and intravenous (IV) saline, and the health sector is prepared to continue testing and treating patients if the number of dengue cases increases.

The assistance comes as Bangladesh continues to face a serious dengue situation. According to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a total of 249 people had died from dengue and 81,598 patients had been hospitalised in the country as of October 1, according to Bangladeshi media reports. September was also the deadliest month for dengue in Bangladesh this year, with 148 deaths recorded during the month.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government is also considering the use of a dengue vaccine and has held discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Gavi, according to the health minister. He said the government would assess the vaccine’s effectiveness, safety and high cost before making a decision in line with international guidelines.

Source: bdnews24, Jago News, The Daily Star