Nepal:  

Setting up a mobile laboratory for outbreak response preparedness in Nepal (2024-2027)

Nepal is increasingly affected by emerging and epidemic-prone infectious diseases, including dengue, Japanese encephalitis, respiratory infections and other viral and bacterial pathogens. The country is also at risk from highly pathogenic diseases such as Nipah virus, for which rapid diagnosis is critical to prevent transmission. However, advanced diagnostic capacity for high-risk pathogens remains concentrated in Kathmandu, resulting in delays of 24h-36h when samples must be transported from remote areas in the provinces.

The project establishes a deployable mobile laboratory at Nepal’s National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and Provincial Public Health Laboratories (PPHLs) to bring advanced diagnostics directly to outbreak and disaster sites.The modular laboratory can be rapidly transported by road and air to health facilities, temporary structures or other suitable locations, providing secure molecular diagnostics close to affected communities. It will initially focus on dengue and Nipah/Hendra virus diagnostics while also supporting testing for a broad range of viral, gastrointestinal and respiratory pathogens.

A comprehensive training-of-trainers (ToT) programme will create a national pool of 23 mobile laboratory operators, including ten Trainers-of-Trainers who can continue capacity building within Nepal. Field deployments will extend diagnostic services to alpine and tropical regions of underserved and remote populations while providing practical experience in integrating mobile diagnostics into outbreak response. The laboratory will ultimately be integrated into Nepal’s national outbreak response system, creating sustainable national capacity for rapid diagnosis and strengthening preparedness for future infectious disease emergencies.

Partners:
BNITM (coordinator)
National Public Health Laboratory Nepal
Tribhuvan University

Funder: Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung