By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, July 5, 2026 - The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has intensified efforts to strengthen Eastern Africa's preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks by convening a regional capacity-building workshop and emergency simulation exercise in Mombasa, Kenya.
The four-day exercise comes as health authorities continue to respond to the ongoing Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD) outbreak in Uganda, with experts warning that increased cross-border collaboration and coordinated surveillance are critical to preventing the spread of the virus across the region.
According to Africa CDC, in a statement released on Sunday, the workshop, organized through its Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre (RCC), brought together public health experts and emergency response officials from South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zanzibar and Djibouti.
Others are representatives from the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and other partners.
The exercise focused on strengthening integrated disease surveillance, improving data interoperability and enhancing information sharing among countries that remain vulnerable to cross-border disease outbreaks.
Participants also took part in a regional simulation exercise designed to test how countries would respond during the critical first 72 hours after confirmation of an outbreak.
The simulation assessed emergency coordination mechanisms, operational readiness and decision-making processes while identifying gaps that could hamper rapid response to future public health emergencies.
"The ongoing Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak underscores the need for stronger surveillance, cross-border collaboration and emergency preparedness across Eastern Africa," Africa CDC said in a statement.
The workshop is part of broader continental efforts to reinforce Africa's public health emergency architecture following the launch of the Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST) in Kampala, Uganda, on June 27.
The IMST was jointly established by Africa CDC and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) to provide coordinated technical support for Uganda's response to the Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak while strengthening preparedness in neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Hosted at the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University, the IMST brings together specialists in disease surveillance, laboratory systems, case management, infection prevention and control, emergency logistics, risk communication and community engagement under a unified operational framework.
More from Kenya
Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya, through the agency's Director of the Centre for Public Health Emergencies Management, Dr. Tolbert Nyenswah, has described the initiative as a major step toward strengthening Africa's ability to lead coordinated responses to disease outbreaks.
"The Continental IMST represents Africa's commitment to stronger institutions, coordinated action and country-led emergency response," Nyenswah said during the Kampala launch.
Uganda's Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said hosting the continental emergency response platform demonstrates what African countries can achieve through regional cooperation.
"Uganda is proud to host the Continental IMST as a demonstration of what countries, regional institutions and partners can achieve by working together. This platform strengthens our response to the current Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak while reinforcing preparedness for future public health emergencies," he said.
The Joint IMST was established following a solidarity visit by Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at the onset of the outbreak. During the meeting, President Museveni pledged Uganda's support to host both the Continental Incident Management Support Team in Kampala and the Continental Ebola Supply Chain Coordination Mechanism in Entebbe.
Health officials say the coordinated approach is intended to ensure outbreaks are detected earlier, response teams are deployed more rapidly and neighbouring countries are better prepared to contain diseases before they spread across borders.
Bundibugyo Virus Disease is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, one of the viruses responsible for Ebola virus disease. The illness can spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials, making early detection, effective surveillance and coordinated regional action essential to limiting transmission.
With increasing movement of people across East Africa, public health experts say stronger regional surveillance systems, harmonised emergency response plans and timely information sharing will be key to safeguarding the region against future epidemics.
The Mombasa workshop concluded with renewed commitments by participating countries and partner organisations to strengthen cooperation, enhance emergency preparedness and build resilient health systems capable of responding swiftly to emerging public health threats across Eastern Africa.