ECSA-HC Supports Countries in East Africa to Check the Spread of Infectious Diseases 14th- 19th May 2019

Many disease outbreaks have been reported in the trans-boundary areas between Uganda and Tanzania. These include Highly Pathological Avian Influenza that was reported in Uganda in 2017 (http://www.fao.org/3/CA1209EN/ca1209en.pdf). In recent months there have also been reports of Rift Valley fever, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever in Mbarara, Ibanda, Kirihura and Isingiro districts of Uganda (https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1481701/rift-valley-fever-reported-ankole-dead). More recently, an outbreak of yellow fever has been reported in Masaka district of Uganda. On top of this, there is an ongoing outbreak of Ebola virus disease in DRC near its border with Uganda.

In line with the requirements of the International Health Regulations, and the Treaty for the formation of the East African Community, neighboring countries need to develop capacity to prevent the spread of diseases across their borders. In pursuant of this, the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), in collaboration with the EAC, supports countries in East Africa through the World-Bank funded East Africa Public Health Laboratory Networking (EAPHLN) Project to strengthen cross-border disease surveillance. ECSAHC has convened a cross-border meeting for cross-border districts from Tanzania and Uganda at Mutukula, Uganda. The meeting that is attended by disease surveillance focal persons, animal/livestock health experts, immigration officials, environmental health experts and political and administrative leaders from both countries is running from 14th to 17th May 2019. President’s Offices of both countries are also represented. Among others, the meeting is discussing ways to strengthen preparedness and response systems for public health emergencies of international importance.