Bangladesh measles outbreak: Testing may halt after May 11 as kit shortage deepens
Synopsis
Bangladesh's sole measles testing lab could go dark after 11 May as WHO-supplied kits run dry — and with over 300 lives already lost and one patient capable of infecting 16 to 18 others, experts warn the window to contain the outbreak is closing fast.
Key Takeaways
Bangladesh's only measles testing facility, the Institute of Public Health in Mohakhali, Dhaka , faces a critical kit shortage that could halt all testing after 11 May 2025 .
More than 300 lives have already been lost in the ongoing measles outbreak across Bangladesh.
The institute processes around 300 samples daily ; each WHO -supplied kit tests samples from only 90 patients .
Director Mominur Rahman said a requisition was sent to WHO about a month ago; kits are expected around 15 May .
Paediatric specialists warn of complications in children including breathing difficulties, brain inflammation, and convulsions.
Public health expert Mushtaq Husain called for an emergency public health declaration and urgent scale-up of vaccination at the upazila level.
Bangladesh's sole measles testing facility, the Institute of Public Health in Mohakhali, Dhaka, is facing a critical shortage of testing kits, threatening to bring all nationwide measles sample testing to a halt after 11 May, according to a report by Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune. The crisis comes as the country battles a worsening measles outbreak that has already claimed more than 300 lives.
Testing on the Brink
The institute processes approximately 300 samples daily from patients across Bangladesh. Officials warned that if fresh supplies do not arrive in time, the country's entire measles diagnostic capacity could collapse within days. The institute reportedly had seven testing kits available as of Monday, but the entire stock was exhausted within two days.
Measles testing kits are supplied by the World Health Organisation (WHO), with each kit capable of processing samples from 90 patients. The ongoing shortage has prevented any expansion of testing capacity, leaving several samples untested.
Virologist Mahbuba Jamil was quoted by the Dhaka Tribune as saying:
Point of View
A public health emergency not yet declared despite over 300 deaths, and a single laboratory shouldering the diagnostic burden for an entire nation. Bangladesh's response has been reactive rather than pre-emptive — and in a disease where one patient can infect 16 to 18 others, every day of diagnostic paralysis is a day of unchecked transmission. Experts are right to flag vaccination as the more decisive lever, but the inability to even count cases accurately makes it nearly impossible to target resources where they are most needed.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why might Bangladesh's measles testing stop after 11 May 2025?
The Institute of Public Health in Mohakhali — Bangladesh's only measles testing facility — has nearly exhausted its stock of WHO-supplied testing kits. If fresh supplies do not arrive before 11 May, all nationwide measles sample testing could cease, according to the Dhaka Tribune.
How many people have died in the Bangladesh measles outbreak?
More than 300 lives have been lost in the measles outbreak across Bangladesh, according to reports. Experts warn the toll could rise sharply if testing halts and the spread goes undetected.
When will new measles testing kits arrive in Bangladesh?
Institute Director Mominur Rahman said a requisition was sent to the WHO approximately one month ago. The WHO has indicated kits could arrive around 15 May, though virologist Mahbuba Jamil noted the WHO said it would take one to one and a half weeks from the time of notification.
What complications are children facing due to the measles outbreak?
Paediatric specialists warned that delays in treatment are causing serious complications among children, including breathing difficulties, oxygen deficiency, brain inflammation, prolonged diarrhoea, and convulsions — all of which raise the risk of fatalities.
What do experts recommend to control the Bangladesh measles outbreak?
Public health expert Mushtaq Husain called for an immediate public health emergency declaration, emergency vaccination scale-up, improved treatment facilities at the upazila level, and adequate supplies of oxygen and essential medical equipment. He also stressed that vaccination is more effective than testing in controlling transmission.
