How Fast Can An Outbreak Be Detected?
In Uganda, the answer used to be ... not fast enough. And every hour is critical. A pilot program set up by CDC has turned things around — and holds lessons for the rest of the world.
How do you stop an outbreak from becoming an epidemic?
You catch it early, of course – a task that requires rapid response and coordination. That's a tough mission in any country, especially a nation lacking in resources.
Uganda is proving that it's absolutely doable, even in a low-income country.
Since 2010, a first-of-its-kind program has helped Ugandans quickly detect and respond to deadly viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) – like Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley fever and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. It's run by the Ministry of Health, the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
