Online Desk 

Amid Bangladesh's ongoing measles outbreak, doctors at the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute have identified adenovirus co-infection as a growing concern, warning that it is contributing to more severe complications in infected children.

According to observations by the hospital's physicians, many children admitted with measles were also infected with adenovirus, leading to rapid deterioration in their condition and increasing the risk of serious complications.

Hospital authorities said laboratory tests on critically ill children found that 16 of 35 measles patients were also infected with adenovirus. Doctors noted that while adenovirus is generally less severe on its own, co-infection with measles can cause serious complications affecting the lungs and other organs.

Professor Mirza Md. Ziaul Islam, Director of the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, said respiratory panel tests were conducted after some children failed to respond to standard treatment. The results showed that a significant number were infected with both measles and adenovirus.

According to physicians, co-infection is particularly dangerous for infants under six months of age, often leading to severe breathing difficulties and lung complications. Some patients have also developed "white lung syndrome," a condition in which the lungs are unable to absorb sufficient oxygen.

The hospital said it had raised the issue of adenovirus co-infection during a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) meeting on measles held on June 23. However, it claimed that no specific measures have yet been taken by either the DGHS or the Ministry of Health to address the issue.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken note of the situation. Representatives from the agency have already visited the children's hospital to assess the outbreak, and a team of CDC experts is expected to visit Bangladesh for further evaluation.

However, Professor Halimur Rashid, Director of the Disease Control Division at the DGHS, said he had not previously been informed about measles and adenovirus co-infections and had not received any formal communication from the children's hospital on the matter.

Public health experts say the possible role of adenovirus should be carefully investigated to better understand why the measles outbreak continues to spread. They have called for urgent research, enhanced surveillance, and a coordinated clinical response to address co-infections.

According to DGHS data, hundreds of people have died since the measles outbreak began in March, with most of the fatalities involving children under the age of five. On Sunday alone, 1,022 people sought treatment at hospitals across the country with suspected measles symptoms, while four deaths were reported. Health experts stress that alongside expanding vaccination coverage, stronger efforts are needed to identify and manage severe co-infections.