Jhpiego

As the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda confront an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease, Jhpiego is expanding its support to governments and frontline health workers to strengthen surveillance and rapid response efforts aimed at preventing further spread of the disease.

The current outbreak represents a particularly urgent global health security challenge. Unlike the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, making early detection, rapid isolation, and strong public health systems the most effective tools for containing transmission.

"Ebola spreads fastest when health systems are weakest," said Dr. Tigistu Ashengo, chief medical officer for Jhpiego. "That's why our teams are working directly with Africa CDC and the governments of Uganda and the DRC to ensure health systems can stop the spread of Ebola now."

Supporting Uganda's Response

In Uganda, Jhpiego is working alongside the Ministry of Health to strengthen the country's ability to detect and respond to new Ebola cases. With funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the Enhancing Global Health Security (EGHS) project, the organization is supporting surveillance teams at key points of entry, helping identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the virus, and reinforcing systems for early case detection.

Strengthening Surveillance and Early Detection

• Supporting screening activities at key points of entry, including the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward along the Congo-Uganda border, where the proximity of Ebola cases requires heightened surveillance.
• Helping identify and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus while strengthening systems for early case detection.

Improving Data and Emergency Coordination

• Deploying health informatics fellows to high-risk districts to strengthen data management during the outbreak response.
• Improving communication infrastructure and data transmission by facilitating internet connectivity at critical coordination sites, including Entebbe International Airport and Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs).
• Supporting seven electronic data management systems used across the outbreak response:
  • ePHEM (Electronic Public Health Emergency Management)
  • ODK (mobile data collection for field teams)
  • eIDSR (Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response)
  • iOS (data collection application support)
  • Alerts (alert capture, triage, and follow-up)
  • Go.Data (case investigation and contact tracing)
  • Partner Management (partner coordination and tracking)
• Supporting the establishment of the Africa CDC office in Kampala and the creation of a Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team that brings together the Ministry of Health, Africa CDC, Jhpiego, and other implementing partners.

Preparing Frontline Health Workers

• Equipping frontline personnel at four points of entry in Rubirizi District with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to recognize, report, and respond to potential Ebola cases.

Public awareness and community engagement remain central to preventing transmission, with early reporting of symptoms and adherence to infection prevention measures playing vital roles in protecting families and communities.

Strengthening Preparedness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the DRC, Jhpiego is supporting efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread to neighboring provinces and countries.

With support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the Emergency Global Health Security (EGHS) project, Jhpiego is helping provinces neighboring affected areas strengthen their surveillance, preparedness, and response capacities.

Recognizing that communities are often the first line of detection, Jhpiego is investing in community-based surveillance, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), and border health security.

Strengthening Community Surveillance and Engagement

• Refreshing the skills of frontline health workers, contact tracers, community leaders, and members of Community Health Development Committees.
• Reinforcing the supervisory capacity of Health Zone Management Teams.
• Improving early warning systems to accelerate case detection and reporting.
• Developing locally tailored communication materials—including flyers and radio spots—in partnership with the Ministry of Health and other partners.
• Supporting community mobilization and public awareness campaigns.

Enhancing Border Preparedness and Cross-Border Collaboration

• Delivering joint training for border officials on health, safety, and security risk detection.
• Establishing screening points and health checks at strategic border crossings.
• Convening regular information-sharing meetings with neighboring country authorities.
• Mapping official and informal crossing points to improve surveillance and optimize resource deployment.

Preparing Frontline Responders

• Conducting simulation exercises in high-risk health zones to test and strengthen outbreak preparedness.
• Providing frontline community health workers and health facilities with operational support packages, including reporting tools, communication protocols, airtime for alert transmission, fever-screening devices, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other essential supplies needed to safely detect and report potential Ebola cases.

Jhpiego is also strengthening coordination and reporting mechanisms across multiple levels of the health system in high-risk provinces, improving information flow and cross-border collaboration as the outbreak evolves across provincial and national boundaries.

Building Long-Term Resilience

Investments in preparedness and health system strengthening save lives. Jhpiego's decades of experience responding to infectious disease outbreaks—including its support during the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic—demonstrate the impact of sustained investments in infection prevention and control, surveillance systems, and workforce preparedness.

Through long-term partnerships with governments and institutions across Africa, including the recently launched Africa Health Security Accelerator, Jhpiego is helping build resilient, country-led systems capable of responding to current and future health threats.

"Isolation centers, surveillance systems, incident management structures, and trained health workers are the foundation of outbreak response," said Dr. Ashengo. "When vaccines and treatments are limited or unavailable, we must rely on strong public health systems."

As Ebola continues to threaten communities, Jhpiego remains committed to supporting governments and frontline responders in detecting outbreaks early, interrupting transmission, and strengthening health security for the future.