Dengue tests are disrupted at Upazila Health Complex, various private hospitals and clinics at Sonagazi upazila in Feni due to shortage of testing kits.

Patients with fever were returning from the hospitals without tests for not having kits since last Sunday.

Of them, five people have been tested positive for dengue in the upazila in the current month only. Hundreds of patients received treatment for cold fever, sore throat and cough in last two months.

Dr Md Nur Ullah, owner of a clinic of Sonagazi, said more than two hundred patients with fever were examined in his clinics in last two months and 15 persons including four women were tested positive for dengue.

Due to lack of kit, dengue test was suspended in the clinic for three days. Residents of municipality areas said drains and sewerage system have been filled with waste materials. The waste coupled with stagnant water has turned into mosquito breeding grounds. The people in and around municipality cannot take nap or rest without mosquito nets or coils. The municipal authorities are not allegedly taking any measures including crash programme to destroy the mosquitoes, locals alleged.

Md Mahabub Alam, lab technologist of Upazila Health Complex, said patients could not be examined in two days due to the shortage of kit. However, upazila health complex received 30 kits from civil surgeon office on Thursday, adding that all kits were finished in a moment.

Utpal Das, health and family planning officer in Sonagazi Upazila, said “A letter has been sent to authorities concerned seeking 2,000 kits. The patients with dengue symptoms are being provided primary treatment and advised to go district sadar hospital.”