Epidemic

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International Day of Epidemic Preparedness 2024: Early detection, early action, healthier communities

Epidemics and pandemics are some of the biggest threats to a safe and healthy world. They are on the rise, and in today’s connected world, they are spreading further and faster than ever before.  Known epidemics—such as cholera, measles, Ebola, and malaria—continue to threaten large parts of the world’s population. And, as we saw with COVID-19, the world is also at risk from new infectious diseases that can claim millions of lives, bring health systems to their knees, and reverse decades of development progress. But the good news is that with effective preparedness and response measures, we can reduce the impacts of epidemics and pandemics and even stop them in their tracks.  The IFRC and our member National Societies have long focused on helping people prepare for, respond to, and recover from health emergencies. Born in the wake of the 1918 influenza pandemic, at the IFRC we know from experience that communities can be the first line of defence against epidemics and pandemics when equipped with the right knowledge, behaviours, skills, and tools.   Through global programmes—such as the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) with USAID and the Programmatic Partnership with the European Union—we’ve been engaging and training people worldwide in epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response for many years. We help people prevent, detect and quickly respond to outbreaks—saving countless lives and building healthier, more resilient communities. Stepping up our efforts in 2024In 2024, the IFRC significantly stepped up our work in epidemic and pandemic preparedness:With support from the World Bank’s Pandemic Fund, and in collaboration with key national and international partners, IFRC was selected to launch two new regional epidemic preparedness programmes. In Africa, the Preparedness for Pandemic Response (PREPARE) programme will strengthen cross-border collaboration, disease surveillance and health systems in East and Central Africa to address health challenges such as the ongoing mpox epidemic. And in Asia Pacific, the Enhancing collaborative surveillance and diagnostic readiness for pandemic preparedness and response in South-East Asia Region will improve early warning and disease surveillance systems, laboratory systems and community health workforce capacity across eight countries.With USAID support, we were delighted to expand the CP3 programme this year into 11 new countries—Burundi, Cambodia, Ivory Coast, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Philippines, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam and Zambia—to prepare even more communities for epidemics and pandemics.Together, these new commitments take the total number of countries where IFRC is directly supporting epidemic preparedness programmes up to 48. This figure doesn’t include the great work being done at the national level by many more Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world.Trusted, local, and always thereAs trusted local actors embedded in their communities and permanently present in areas other organizations cannot reach, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are best placed to support community-level epidemic and pandemic preparedness. The IFRC works to strengthen National Societies’ ability to prepare for and respond to epidemics through training, technical assistance, advocacy support and coordination. Together, we also engage a wide range of stakeholders in epidemic and pandemic preparedness—such as governments, religious leaders, businesses and the media—because we know that all parts of society need to come together to keep people safe from epidemics and pandemics. The time to prepare is nowCOVID-19 was a wake-up call to the world to prepare now for the next health crisis. The pandemic claimed millions of lives and revealed major gaps in epidemic and pandemic preparedness around the world.The IFRC network is doing essential work right now to prepare communities for the next pandemic. But more investment is needed globally to strengthen health systems and ensure societies are prepared for an increasingly hazardous world.--To stay up to date with the IFRC’s work in epidemic and pandemic preparedness, sign up to our monthly newsletter which features highlights from Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world.And for practical epidemic preparedness resources, check out our Epidemic Control Toolkit—available in multiple languages—for guidance on evidence-based methods to prevent and control the spread of epidemics at the community-level.

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Red Cross responds to the largest dengue outbreak in Central America with education and prevention

Dengue has been a major public health threat in Latin America for decades, with epidemics occurring cyclically every three to five years. Transmitted by female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the virus affects millions of people every year, but never more than now.So far this year,more than 12.7 million suspected cases of dengue were reported in the Region of the Americas, a record number in the history of the disease.In Central America and Mexico, more than 17,000 new suspected cases of dengue were reported in the last week of November alone. This equates to 100 cases every hour, a 198 per cent increase over the average over the past five years.This increase in the spread of dengue poses a challenge to health systems in a region facing complex climatic and health conditions.The effects of the climate crisis, extreme temperatures and more intense weather events – such as hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020, the historic heat waves earlier this year, or the recent tropical storm Sara – are changing the habits of thousands of Central American families living in conditions of risk and vulnerability.Growing poverty and inequality, coupled with insufficient and inadequate water and sanitation services, are forcing people to store what little water they have access to. Water is often stored improperly, due to a lack of information or the lack of adequate means to store it safely.This and other practices, such as poor solid waste management, can facilitate the creation of mosquito breeding sites in items such as uncovered water containers, tires, flowerpots, piles and gutters.Amid this multi-factorial challenge, National Red Cross Societies from around the Central American region have engaged in a comprehensive response, which encompasses a variety of strategies focused on prevention and education.During 2023 and 2024, local Red Cross teams have implemented six dengue response operations in Central America, with support from the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF).This year, dengue response efforts have also been carried out in operations in response to a hospital fire in Roatan, Honduras, and flooding in June in El Salvador.Thanks to these eight IFRC-DREF operations, National Societies in the region will be able to reach more than 182,000 people in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama with response actions, but also with prevention for future outbreaks.Community-based preventionOne of the Red Cross' main initiatives has been to raise community awareness of the dangers of dengue and the importance of eliminating mosquito breeding sites.Volunteers work directly in communities, in coordination with health authorities, to carry out community-based prevention and vector control activities.The main activities include educational talks, identification and elimination of mosquito breeding sites, application of larvicide in stacks and water containers, fumigation and cleaning campaigns, and home visits.These activities teach people how to avoid stagnant water, where mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs, and promote practical and effective measures such as turning over containers and regularly cleaning drainage systems.The response also includes the distribution of safe water storage containers and household cleaning kits, as well as water filters, repellents and mosquito nets for groups at risk, such as pregnant women, children under five, the elderly, and people with disabilities and/or reduced mobility.Strong and prepared communitiesThe Red Cross has a long-term focus on training local staff to strengthen community capacity to fight dengue.Through workshops and training sessions, volunteers learn how to recognize the symptoms of dengue, how to effectively prevent outbreaks and how to implement sustainable mosquito control programs.Volunteers have also helped to establish and train community health committees to promote epidemiological surveillance at the community level.In several locations, local health workers are also being trained in the clinical management of dengue patients, especially in areas where health infrastructure is limited.Through its comprehensive approach to education and prevention, the Red Cross has played a key role in the fight against dengue in Central America, a region highly vulnerable due to climatic, social and health factors.The actions carried out by volunteers and trained staff have not only allowed the response to emergencies, but also to prepare communities for future outbreaks.From eliminating breeding sites and distributing supplies to training in clinical management and sustainable vector control strategies, these interventions have built community resilience. In some places, the actions of the National Red Cross Societies in support of the health ministries in the region have led to reductions in dengue cases.In Panama, for example, there has been a reduction in dengue cases in recent weeks, which could be linked to the efforts of several actors, including the Ministry of Health, the Panamanian Red Cross, other international agencies and the communities themselves.Some small communities have also provided anecdotal accounts that suggest the dengue education and eradication efforts are making a difference.Despite the progress, dengue remains a challenge, underscoring the importance of continuing to adapt our response strategies to the climatic and social changes affecting public health in the region.

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On the frontline of floods and infectious diseases, volunteers raise awareness, protect vulnerable people and save lives

Architophel Ntsiakulu and Adama Barka live in very different parts of Central Africa’s western, coastal region. But they share something very powerful in common: a dedication to help fellow community members protect themselves from the impacts of unforeseen crises.A volunteer with the Gabonese Red Cross, Architophel Ntsiakulu has been at the forefront of efforts to help people protect themselves from Mpox. Meanwhile, Adama Barka, a volunteer in Cameroon, is in the midst of helping communities recover from devastating floods. Here are their stories.At the forefront in the fight against MpoxArchitophel Ntsiakulu, 25, is a dedicated figure within the Gabonese Red Cross. For the past five years, this volunteer from the 6th district of Libreville has devoted her time to awareness campaigns and community actions. This year, she has played a key role in prevention efforts against Mpox, a disease that, while receding, still raises doubts and misunderstandings among local communities.“What motivated me to become a volunteer was the desire to be useful to my community,”shares Architophel. Her work involves reaching out to residents to raise awareness of preventive measures: hand hygiene, recognizing symptoms, and managing suspected cases. While imported cases of Mpox have been reported, with no established local transmission, it is crucial to educate communities about risks and proper behaviors.However, challenges abound. “Many people think Mpox is just a myth. We put in extra effort to explain, with patience, the importance of preventive measures.” Through on-the-ground visits to schools, markets, door-to-door outreach, and the distribution of visual materials, Architophel and her team have reached hundreds of households.Community recognition serves as a great motivation for Architophel. “During one visit, residents thanked us for our work and even incorporated WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) practices into their daily routines.”This positive impact is the result of thorough training and constant dedication.Cameroon: Adama Barka, Heroine of Far North FloodsThe devastating floods that hit Cameroon’s Far North region left hundreds of thousands in distress. With over 450,000 people affected, Adama Barka, a young volunteer with the Cameroon Red Cross, was at the heart of the humanitarian response.A native of Yagoua, the capital of Mayo-Danay division, Adama witnessed her community being profoundly shaken by this natural disaster. “When the floods started, our superiors immediately mobilized us to respond. We helped displaced people reach emergency camps and set up tents to shelter them,” she recalls.In collaboration with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Cameroon Red Cross launched a coordinated and integrated response plan to address urgent needs: cash assistance, protection activities, and awareness campaigns about waterborne diseases like cholera.A Vital Role in Preventing EpidemicsAdama and her fellow volunteers also led awareness campaigns to prevent waterborne diseases, a major threat following floods. “We show people how to treat water, what water is safe to drink, and how to avoid diseases caused by contaminated water,” she explains. These efforts have helped limit the spread of epidemics in affected areas.Shared challenges and a spirit of solidarityWhether raising awareness about Mpox in Gabon or responding to floods in Cameroon, Red Cross volunteers play a crucial role in protecting communities. They face numerous challenges: limited resources, resistance from populations, and sometimes even risks to their own safety. Yet their commitment remains steadfast. Their dedication is a call for solidarity and a reminder that #ProtectHumanity is about safeguarding the future.To support the work of Adama and thousands of volunteers engaged in emergency response and to help those affected by the floods in Cameroon, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal aimed at raising 4.5 million Swiss Francs to help the Cameroon Red Cross provide supports for more than 99,000 people impacted by the floods.

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Mpox in DRC: How being prepared for epidemics leads to a more effective response

“The first symptom was fever. The next day, I noticed the appearance of spots. They burned like a rash. They spread everywhere on my body. I thought: what kind of disease is this?”Basele from Mbandaka, Équateur province is one of more than 8000 people confirmed to have caught mpox in DRC this year amid an alarming surge in cases. Fortunately, Basele was quickly pointed in the right direction by the DRC Red Cross to get the support she needed to recover and limit the spread of infection.“The Red Cross volunteers came to my home. They told me that the disease was contagious, that if someone in my family gets sick we can all become infected in our house. So we have to get off our feet and go to the hospital when the illness starts,” explains Basele.Mpox is the latest in a long line of epidemics to hit DRC, with the country suffering from recurrent outbreaks of cholera, Ebola and measles—among other diseases—in recent years.The DRC Red Cross has learned many lessons from responding to these health crises. And through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), with funding from USAID and technical support from IFRC, the National Society has done lots of work in recent years to prepare its volunteers, communities and partners to leap into action against mpox.Early detection, early action, healthier communitiesThrough the CP3 programme, more than 300 Red Cross volunteers in Équateur had already been trained in epidemic control and community-based surveillance (CBS)—gaining the knowledge, skills and tools needed to be able to rapidly detect and report potential mpox cases. Since the escalation of the epidemic, this training has been expanded and delivered to a further 700+ volunteers in the province.Together, these volunteers play a vital role in their communities finding people showing mpox symptoms, alerting local health authorities through a CBS system, and encouraging people to seek help at mpox treatment centres.“With regard to CP3, we work in close collaboration with Red Cross volunteers. They go out into the community, they look for sick people, they bring them to the health centre... we take care of them here at our mpox site,” explains Monique Itala Mulo, Head Nurse at Mama Elikya Referral Health Centre in Mbandaka.By quickly finding and reporting suspected mpox cases, and encouraging people to seek treatment, the risk of the disease spreading is reduced. The National Society and local health authorities also use the data collected through CBS to inform their response activities.Trust built over time enables wide reach and accessAs members of the communities they serve, DRC Red Cross volunteers are known and trusted by the local population in Équateur and benefit from wide reach and access. Before the current surge in mpox cases, volunteers were already reaching far and wide into communities to raise awareness about the disease and tell people to stay safe.“We go door-to-door to speak to people in their homes. We go to schools, we go to churches, we go to hot spots—markets, ports, entry points, checkpoints—any places where we can interact with the community. The community is starting to raise [mpox] alerts themselves. In other words, the impact is already positive,” says Dr Leblanc Monzeba, Head of Health Division in the Équateur branch of DRC Red Cross.Having already established deep and trusting relationships with communities, volunteers are able to effectively challenge mpox stigma and rumours that may prevent people from seeking help and convince people to adopt healthy behaviours, such as following good hygiene practices.According to Dr Leblanc, one particularly notable area of behaviour change observed is within the traditional healer community.“We held advocacy sessions with traditional healers to explain the importance of notifiying health authorities of people showing signs of mpox. Previously, the traditional healers would keep the patient at home. But now they are starting to pass on information, and when they see patients who present signs of mpox, they send them directly to the nearest health centre,” he explains.Strong partnerships lay the foundation for effective responseBefore the current surge in mpox cases, the DRC Red Cross had already established strong working relationships with government authorities and various stakeholders to prepare for epidemics and pandemics.“The Red Cross is our go-to partner during epidemics, just as we work together outside of an epidemic. We always collaborate,” says Dr Elaba Bibiche, Head Doctor in Mbandaka Health Zone.Thanks to its prior preparation and auxiliary role to health authorities, DRC Red Cross has been able to fit seamlessly into the government’s mpox response plan and intervene in clearly defined areas.Pre-existing relationships with various media outlets are also enabling DRC Red Cross to reach tens of thousands of people across the province with lifesaving health information."I've been partnering with the Red Cross for six years. We have a really good working relationship. They were the first organisation to start raising community awareness about mpox. We do programmes with their staff and volunteers, phone-in shows where people call in to ask questions about mpox and get the answers they need,” explains Trésor Ikonda, Director General at Radio Evangile Eternel in Équateur.As the response to mpox continues, and though significant challenges remain, DRC Red Cross staff and volunteers feel positive that their preparedness efforts are paying off as they strive to reduce the impact of the epidemic on communities.“The DRC Red Cross branch in Équateur has the capacity to manage epidemics thanks to the IFRC. Since 2018, we have faced a series of large epidemics in Équateur. It’s from the experience of managing other epidemics and from implementing the CP3 programme—which meant that we already had trained volunteers on the ground working in the different health zones—that we had the capacity to respond to mpox,” explains Colomban Mampunya, DRC Red Cross Équateur Branch President.--The activities featured in this article are part of the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3).  Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supports communities, National Societies and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.USAID’s Bureau of Global Health has also provided additional support to IFRC and DRC Red Cross for mpox response activities.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter or visit the DRC Red Cross website.

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Mpox: Saving lives by bringing the mpox message directly to the people

Known to some in her community as ‘Mama Eyenga’, Eyenga Bamboko is one of many volunteers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who are leading the fight against mpox in their local communities.Interviewed in the Lingala language in her home city of Mbandaka, she talks about the work volunteers have been doing to protect people from infection and prevent unnecessary deaths among those who do get ill.“My name is Eyenga Bamboko and I'm a first aider and I've been with the Red Cross movement for nearly two years.Colleagues from Kinshasa came to train us as part of CP3 [Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme] so that we could go out into the field and raise people’s awareness on mpox, even before the disease had spread. We were trained intensively on the disease before it even existed in the region.And then mpox arrived. We observed a few cases. We reported these suspected cases to the provincial health authorities. We told them that we had observed cases as we had been trained. They took them to hospital.But the problem was that, in the beginning, we lost a lot of people. Because many people didn't want to believe in this illness. Some thought it was witchcraft, others said it was a curse or traditional illness.A lot of people died because they didn't go to hospital, they went to see the witchdoctors instead. By the time they did get to hospital, it was often too late. We found that those who went to hospital straight away were cured. But those who arrived late were the ones who succumbed to the disease.'I'm going to tell Mama Eyenga’We tried to help the stronger ones recover and we started to raise awareness in the community. Now many people have started going to hospital. They come to see us to say ‘Mama Eyenga, what you said the other day [about mpox], we have seen.’ Sometimes we go and we see that it is exactly that [a suspected mpox case].We ask people to go to hospital, telling them that they will be looked after free of charge, so that we can protect the rest of the family in the home before they too became infected. They are really starting to understand.We're encountering a lot of difficulties in the field. Many people still don't want to believe in this disease. And you can see that a lot of hospitals are overwhelmed at the moment. But we're not going to stop raising awareness.In my own home, I've seen a real change. Especially when it comes to hand washing. When my grandchildren want to play or eat they make their brothers and sisters aware and they say ‘if you don't wash your hands, I'm going to tell Mama Eyenga’. Even at school, they also raise awareness among their friends and classmates.At first, my husband and children didn’t agree with me volunteering. They thought I worked too much and there’s a risk of me getting sick. But now they don’t ask any more questions because they’ve understood that I am helping the community.”Read more about mpox and the IFRC network’s response:What is mpox? Your questions answeredIFRC’s regional mpox emergency appealRed Cross mpox response in the Republic of CongoProfile of Red Cross volunteer Helene: 'I have no choice but to go and try to save lives.'

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Republic of Congo: Congolese Red Cross at the forefront of fighting the mpox outbreak

Along the southern banks of the Congo River lies a group of villages in the Mpouya district.This is where Roch Boetou-Kadilamio, Disaster Management Coordinator for the Congolese Red Cross (CRC), noticed a woman displaying possible signs of mpox in early february.“She was interacting with other community members as she waited for her turn to receive household items distributed by CRC to families displacedby recent floods,” Roch explains.Many African states, including the Republic of Congo, have weak health care systems characterized by inadequate surveillance, diagnostics and patient-care facilities to effectively and efficiently control the spread of diseases, including the recent sharp increase in mpox cases in many countries.The Republic of Congo shares a more than 1.700-kilometer-long border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – the current epicenter of the mpox – leaving it at very high risk of imported cases.For this reason, the IFRC has taken a regional approach, launching an emergency appeal in August 2024 to fund operations across numerous countries already impacted by Mpox, or that are stepping up prevention measures in hopes of limiting the disease's spread.Early warning allows early actionBeing on the ground in the village and trained to monitor risks allowed Roch to identify the suspected mpox case and report it forward to health authorities for follow up and mitigation efforts. This was possible due to a Disaster Risk Reduction programme, implemented by CRC in partnership with the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), which aims to strengthen the capacity of communities to anticipate, respond to and quickly recover from disasters.“We train communities to be aware of potential risks including health risks, detect them early, and seek help timely to reduce further spread of disease and deaths,” said Dr. Lambert Boteya Djoke, Head of Health and Social Actionfor the CRC.Through a network of local and trusted community volunteers, with support from the CRC staff, volunteers send alerts to national health information systems via local health centers. Alerts can also be sent to the Congolese Red Crossheadquartersusing a toll-free telephone number.“For the woman at the distribution center who was suspected to have mpox, we quickly alerted the nearest health center but also the health authorities, including the Ministry of Health,”explains Dr. Lambert. “They swiftly visited the site together with a team from the World Health Organization, took samples for testing and once confirmed positive, followed up with other measures.”Accessing even the most remote villages with critical public health informationThe Congolese Red Cross, as an auxiliary to the government, is actively supporting authorities in preparing for and responding to the mpox outbreak. Given its extensive volunteer network of more than 30,000 community volunteers across the country, of which 15,000 can be rapidly mobilized, CRC supports in reaching the most vulnerable and remote communities with critical information to mitigate and prevent the spread of mpox.“We have communities who live in the forests who cannot easily access public information," saysNadège Blandine Mabika, the CRC’s focal point Community Engagement and Accountability, Gender and Inclusion, and National Society Development. "We also have communities by the river who routinely cross the border into DRC for trade, medical care and other essential services unchecked. All these communities need to be reached if we are to control the spread of mpox."Facing a surging outbreak of a disease with patterns are evolving and not yet adequately understood, the Congolese Red Cross, along with the entire IFRC regional network, remains committed to preventing, controlling and responding to the mpox outbreak for as long as needed.Learn more about Mpox:What is Mpox: Your questions answeredHow volunteers are making the difference in the DRC

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What is mpox? Your questions answered.

Mpox is not the next global pandemic like COVID-19, according to public health officials. But the spread of mpox is alarming health experts as it spreads to more countries in East Africa. The mpox epidemic must be addressed quickly and effectively in order to avoid a larger global spread.With more than 17,000 suspected or confirmed cases and more than 500 deaths in at least 12 countries in Africa, the epidemic has already surpassed mpox outbreaks of previous years. But mpox can be contained through a combination of education, protection measures, prompt medical attention and coordinated action from local, national and international organizations. Here are some answers to common questions about mpox.What is mpox and how is it spread?Mpox is a viral illness caused by the mpox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus, which is related to smallpox but less severe. Previously known as ‘monkeypox’, the name waschanged to mpox by the WHO in late 2022 due to stigma associated with its former name.Mpox is not new. The first case in humans was recorded in 1970 and the disease is considered endemic in West and Central Africa. Historically there have been two broad variations or ‘clades’ of mpox:Clade 1: The oldest form of the virus, this variation typically causes more serious illness and death and is endemic in Central Africa. It is spread through contact with infected wild animals and through close human contact. Children seem to be more at risk.Clade 2: This clade caused a global mpox outbreak in 2022. Infections tend to be less severe. Reported cases since 2022 are mainly, but not exclusively, among men who have sex with men and their close contacts. This clade is endemic in West Africa. In September 2023, a new clade emerged – clade 1b – which has rapidly spread in adults through sexual contact and in children through household contact, and is one of the main reasons for mpox being declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.Clade 1b has already spread to countries with no previous reported cases of mpox: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. A high number of clade 1b cases in DRC and Burundi are among children, demonstrating the disease isn’t only spreading through sexual contact.What are the symptoms of mpox?The most common clinical symptoms are rash, discomfort, sore throat, fever, lymph node swelling, skin lesionsand lack of appetite.Many patients have experienced a single lesion or sore in their mouth or on their genitals, which could be mistaken for herpes, syphilis, staph infection, or acne.While mpox rash is typically more concentrated on the face, trunk, palms of the hands and soles of the feet, mouth or oral mucous lesions are found in up to 70 percent of cases.How deadly is mpox?“Most people fully recover from mpox, but some get very sick,”explains Gwen Eamer, IFRC Senior Officer for Public Health in Emergencies.“People who exhibit symptoms should see a doctor, as medical attention and treatment can drastically reduce the severity of the infection.”“Mpox can be a stigmatizing disease due to its physical appearance, but we should stay calm and be part of solution by working together to get the necessary resources and help to the people who need it most.”Who is most at risk of severe illness from mpox?People with suppressed immune systems, children, young adults who have not received a smallpox vaccine, and pregnant women are most at-risk of severe disease from mpox.How can I protect myself from mpox?To reduce your risks, stay informed and up-to-date on the signs and symptoms of mpox, how it spreads, and what to do if you get sick. You should also monitor the risk level in your area.Mpox can be prevented by avoiding close contact, including sexual contact, with infected people and animals.If you suspect you have mpox, seek medical attention as soon as possible.If you are confirmed to have mpox:Follow medical advice, including taking any prescribed medicationInform people you have been in contact with, or follow contact tracing guidelines from your country’s health authoritiesStay at home and avoid physical contact with other people until all scabs fall off and new skin forms underneathCover lesions and wear a well-fitting mask when around other peopleWatch this short Mpox explainer video on YouTube:How serious is this mpox outbreak?In mid-August, the WHO determined that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa is a ‘public health emergency of international concern’, requiring a coordinated international response.“That does not mean this is going to be a pandemic like COVID-19,”Eamer adds. “But this is a call to action to dedicate the resources we have around the world to stop this where it is now.”The situation is alarming with the rapid spread among newly at-risk populations, and to areas and countries that have never experienced mpox before.The case fatality rate is also higher compared to the 2022 pandemic and it could increase if more children and other high-risk populations are infected, but decreases with early access to supportive treatment and vaccination.What is the IFRC doing in response to the mpox outbreak?The IFRC is ramping up response efforts over the surge of mpox cases across Africa. The IFRC has extensive experience managing previous disease outbreaks, such as Ebola and COVID-19.With a vast network of more than 4 million volunteers and 14,000 staff across the continent, the IFRC network of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies is providing critical support to governments, including community-based surveillance, risk communication and community engagement, and mental health services.The IFRC has also launched an CHF40 million regional emergency appeal to bolster mpox preparedness and response across Africa, with CHF 5 million provided through the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) as a loan to this regional emergency appeal. This funding will help us reach 30 million people in countries with an active outbreak, including DRC and neighbouring countries at high risk of the virus spreading further.In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country reporting the most mpox cases, how is the DRC Red Cross responding? In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Red Cross has been supporting the government response by sharing trusted and accurate health information with communities, conducting community-based surveillance to detect and report suspected cases, providing psychosocial support to affected people, and supporting with community-based health and hygiene promotion measures.Through theCommunity Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3)and theProgrammatic Partnershipthe DRC Red Cross (with technical support from IFRC and French Red Cross) has been building health resilience in communities across the country for many years, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to quickly detect, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.USAID has also provided additional funding since April to support the DRC Red Cross response to mpox.What are Red Cross Societies in countries neighbouring DRC doing to control the outbreak?National Societies in neighbouring countries are now responding to their first cases of mpox and are rapidly scaling support to communities. They are working to help detect and respond to new cases to reduce illness and deaths and limit the spread of the virus.Burundi Red Cross is supporting their Ministry of Health to respond to the rapid increase in mpox cases with support from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).I’m from a Red Cross or Red Crescent National Society, what mpox resources can I use within my community or country?The IFRC’sEpidemic Control Toolkit provides guidance on evidence-based methods to prevent and control the spread of epidemics at the community-level, and guidance on appropriate referral and basic care for the sick.Guidance on mpox for community volunteers and for response managers has been recently updated and is available in multiple languages.In addition, here are some other helpful resources:IFRC: Community-based surveillance resourcesWHO: Clinical management and Infection Prevention Control for mpox (interim guidelines, June 2022)Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Reducing stigma in mpox communication and community engagementIFRC: Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) Toolkit

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IFRC and DRC Red Cross grieve drowning of volunteer working on mpox response

The IFRC and the DRC Red Cross sadly confirm the tragic death of Jean Florent Mosebi on 23 August 2024, Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), after his boat capsized.Jean was a dedicated Red Cross volunteer involved in the mpox response in Equateur province. He reportedly drowned while on a mission, crossing from one Health Zone to another. As a community-based surveillance (CBS) focal point for the Wangata health zone, he had been temporarily deployed to Lukolela health zone to support the mpox response.The IFRC and DRC Red Cross extend their heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Jean Florent Mosebi at DRC Red Cross.Since the beginning of the year, the IFRC network has lost 30 volunteers and staff while on duty — 27 due to violence, 3 in accidents.The loss of our staff and volunteers highlights the significant risks faced in providing essential humanitarian assistance in hard-to-reach areas.

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Press release

IFRC announces CHF 40 million appeal as Africa faces surge in mpox cases

Kinshasa/Nairobi/Geneva – 23 August 2024 – The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an CHF40 million regional emergency appeal to bolster mpox preparedness and response across Africa, with CHF 5 million provided through the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) as a loan to this regional emergency appeal.This funding will help us reach 30 million people in countries with an active outbreak, including DRC and neighbouring countries at high risk of the virus spreading further.Mohammed Omer Mukhier, IFRC Regional Director says:“It’s a serious situation that could potentially spread like wildfire across the continent and beyond, if we don’t act fast. We have already ramped up our mpox response in DRC which is bearing the brunt of this mpox outbreak putting its neighbours at high risk.”The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the epicentre of a rapidly escalating mpox epidemic. The virus is now in all 26 provinces of the DRC, with different variants (‘clades’) being spread simultaneously. Alarmingly, cross-border transmission from the DRC’s eastern regions, particularly North and South Kivu, is rising, affecting non-endemic countries like Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. Meanwhile, outbreaks in endemic countries such as Nigeria, Central African Republic, South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire are re-emerging or escalating. This marks the first time that sustained transmission of multiple variants is being reported concurrently both endemic and non-endemic regions across Africa.Dr Irene Kiiza, IFRC, Manager - Africa, Health and Care in Disaster and Climate Crises says:“We are quickly deploying available resources to focus on hotspots like DRC and Burundi, but we need more to ensure the virus is contained. Our priority is to curb the spread of the virus through community-based surveillance, contact tracing, mental health support and targeted interventions partnering with local health authorities and communities.”In response to this crisis, the DRC Red Cross has intensified its efforts. Leveraging skills and strategies honed through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) with USAID and the Programmatic Partnership with the European Union, DRC Red Cross volunteers are actively engaged in health information dissemination, community-based surveillance, and the provision of psychosocial support. USAID also provided additional funding since April 2024 to support the DRC Red Cross response to mpox in Equateur, one of the hardest hit provinces.Mercy Laker, IFRC Head of Country Cluster Delegation, Kinshasa:“We have been working in the mpox response as well as other disease outbreaks such as Ebola and COVID-19. Our team, including staff and volunteers, are on the ground, helping keep communities safe during this tough time. The funding from the appeal will help boost our operations in DRC and Burundi.”In Burundi, the government has a comprehensive response plan to tackle the ongoing health crisis. With more than 100 active cases, the Burundi MOH is focused on boosting the capacity of health facilities and laboratories nationwide, while the Burundi Red Cross is providing direct support to affected communities to ensure they are aware of the risks and can access the care available.Through this appeal, the IFRC will strengthen African National Societies’ capabilities to fulfil their auxiliary role and support national governments in enhancing disease surveillance, providing community health education, providing care and support for mpox patients - and delivering psychosocial support. The response will be tiered, with specific interventions tailored to the level of outbreak in each country including heightened risk case importation, imported cases and established mpox transmission.More information There is more on the Emergency Appeal on this page.  To request an interview, contact: [email protected]  In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67 Andrew Thomas: +41 76 367 65 87 In Nairobi: Susan Nzisa Mbalu: +254 733 827 654In Goma:Gracia Dunia: +243 813 274 794

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Emergency

Africa Region: Mpox Epidemic

A worrying surge in mpox cases and deaths in 2024 is being observed in Africa, with over 17,000 cases and 500 deaths across at least 12 countries in 2024, representing a 160 per cent and 19 per cent increase in cases and deaths, respectively, in comparison to the same period of 2023. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the epicenter of this epidemic with 92 per cent of the total cases in the Africa region. Cases have now been reported in all 26 provinces of the DRC. Cross-border transmission from the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu to non-endemic countries is on the rise, especially into Burundi, but also into Rwanda and Uganda as well as Kenya. Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies across the continent are liaising with their respective Ministries to support their preparedness and response plans. Please donate now and join us in making a meaningful difference for the 30 million people supported by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in this response.

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Press release

IFRC scales up mpox response in Africa as global health emergency declared

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is ramping up response efforts over the surge of mpox cases across Africa. It has triggered WHO and Africa CDC to declare the epidemic a public health emergency of international and continental concern over the past three days. With more than 17,000 suspected or confirmed cases and a devastating death toll of 500 deaths in at least 12 countries, the epidemic has surpassed the scale of previous years. The case fatality rate is at 3.2%. The situation is alarming with the rapid spread among newly at-risk populations, and international spread to areas that have never experienced mpox.Mohammed Omer Mukhier, IFRC Regional Director says:“The sharp increase in mpox cases in Africa is deeply concerning and a serious public health concern. This isn’t just a local issue; it’s a continental threat that demands immediate and coordinated action. In DRC, since last year, together with DRC Red Cross teams, we have been supporting affected communities but more needs to be done, in close liaison with mobilised Ministries of Health, as the situation evolves and expands rapidly across Africa.”The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced 92% of cases in this growing epidemic, but rapid spread in other countries is putting new communities at risk. A new Clade 1b variant, about which we are still learning, has emerged in the DRC and is now spreading to neighbouring countries including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Other African nations are reporting suspected cases along with resurgence of previous mpox outbreaks. Unlike the previous outbreaks, epidemics associated both with new and pre-existing types of the mpox virus are growing, affecting new communities. The new variant, while linked with sexual contact, is affecting people of all ages and backgrounds.Bronwyn Nichol, IFRC, Senior Officer, Public Health in Emergencies says:“The mpox epidemic is a stark reminder that viruses know no borders. Shortages in testing, treatment, and vaccines demand a coordinated global response, including increased access to vaccine stocks in Africa. A unified effort is essential to protect vulnerable populations and prevent needless suffering and death.”In the DRC, the DRC Red Cross has been supporting the government response by sharing trusted and accurate health information with communities, conducting community-based surveillance to detect and report suspected cases, providing psychosocial support to affected people, and supporting with community-based hygiene promotion measures. A community-based approach will support victims against stigma. Those showing signs and symptoms are supported early before further transmission.Grégoire Mateso, President DRC Red Cross, says:“The past year has been difficult. The emergence of a new and potentially more transmissible variant of mpox like Clade 1b gravely affects containment. We have seen firsthand how a shortage of testing, vaccines and treatment kits can hamper efforts to contain the disease. There is also need for more public awareness to manage stigma, early detection and isolation of cases.”The DRC Red Cross is expanding its response to the mpox outbreak, leveraging many years of community-based epidemic preparedness work. Through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) and the Programmatic Partnership the DRC Red Cross, with technical support from IFRC and French Red Cross, has been building health resilience in communities across the country, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to quickly detect, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.Red Cross societies in neighbouring countries that are responding to their first cases of mpox are rapidly scaling support to communities, to help detect and respond to new cases to reduce illness and deaths and limit the spread of the virus. Burundi Red Cross is supporting their Ministry of Health to respond to the rapid increase in mpox cases with support from the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).The IFRC is at the forefront of the response to the mpox outbreak in Africa, with extensive experience managing previous disease outbreaks, such as Ebola and COVID-19. With a vast network of more than 4 million volunteers and 14,000 staff across the continent, the IFRC network is providing critical support to governments, including community-based surveillance, risk communication and community engagement, and mental health services.As the mpox epidemic continues to spread, the IFRC calls for increased global support to contain the crisis through increased access to testing, treatment, and vaccines for at-risk populations across the continent, along with sustained community-based action, which improves the effectiveness of epidemic response actions.More information To request an interview, contact: [email protected]  In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa: +41 79 708 43 67 Andrew Thomas: +41 76 367 65 87 In Nairobi: Susan Nzisa Mbalu: +254 733 827 654

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Article

Mpox in DRC: 'I have no choice but to go and try to save lives,' explains Red Cross volunteer

"My name is Hélène Mula. I've been a volunteer since 2018. I'd known about the Red Cross for a while, but I was afraid to join at first because I only knew about their work conducting burials [during Ebola]. I thought that’s all they did. So I was scared.But when I arrived here in Mbandaka, a friend of my son's came to visit him. He was wearing a Red Cross T-shirt. I asked him some questions about it, saying I loved Red Cross but was scared. He put me at ease.Every day I spend about four hours raising awareness on health issues. I do it in the community where I live with members of my community and family. They know me very well. When they see me they say, ‘Oh Mommy Red Cross, how are you?’. Then I go over and talk to them. It’s work that we do with our hearts. If something is going on, they tell me about it.Mpox is here. I learned about mpox through the Red Cross, that there is an epidemic. I didn’t know about the disease before. I was trained about mpox through CP3 [Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness programme]. Now I’m capable of talking about the disease within the community. I explain what the symptoms are, how it spreads, how to avoid it and how people can protect themselves and the community.At first I was scared about going into communities to talk about mpox and the risks. Because I know it can spread from person to person. But it’s okay to be scared. I am a volunteer, I have no choice but to go and try to save lives.It’s been difficult because before we started sensitizing the community, some people didn’t believe in mpox. Others did believe it existed, but thought it was some kind of curse. Some thought that the Ministry of Health had made a curse in order to come and demand money from the community.But over time, when they started to see more and more people dying, they started calling us saying ‘come, come, there’s a problem here’. I’d call my supervisor and we’d follow up to see if there are cases. The fact people are calling me now reassures me I am doing good work.In my neighbourhood, people have started to protect their children, wash their hands regularly, and limit contact with people who are sick or suspected of being sick. They now take people who are showing symptoms to the hospital. Before, they used to keep people who were sick at home. But now when they see symptoms they understand they can’t leave them at home, that there’s a risk of the disease spreading."--Hélène Mula is a DRC Red Cross volunteer based in Mbandaka, Equateur - one of the provinces hardest hit by the mpox outbreak. This testimony was captured in mid-July 2024.Hélène is part of the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness programme (CP3) - a multi-country programme funded by USAID which supports communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.The CP3 programme has been active in DRC since 2018. Learn more here.

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Article

International Youth Day: Kenyan school kids sing, act and dance in vibrant epidemic preparedness competition

“People of Tharaka, listen, we tell you!”“Diseases have no boundaries. They can infect anyone!”“They can infect teachers, pupils, farmers and the entire community!”“We need to be aware of diseases like COVID-19! Cholera! Measles! Kalazaar! And how we can prevent them!”These are some of the lyrics chanted loudly and proudly by children from Maragwa primary school in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya as they competed in theChanuka Challenge last month. They reflect the passion and knowledge of kids determined to keep their communities safe from infectious diseases.What was the Chanuka Challenge all about?Chanuka is a Swahili word which roughly translates as ‘be smart!’ Organized by the Kenya Red Cross, the challenge ran throughout July across four different counties in Kenya. 61 primary and secondary schools participated, whose pupils sang, acted, danced and performed skits to raise awareness about different diseases and win prizes.More than 800 school children took part in the challenge – teaming up to present everything from poems about polio to role plays about rabies – which were judged on creativity, confidence, working together, and accuracy of their health information.As well as the main prize for top school performance, individual prizes were also up for grabs in the form of health quizzes and interactive games.By turning complex health topics into accessible and engaging performances, pupils practised how to effectively communicate about disease signs and symptoms, as well as prevention and control measures, to their peers and wider community—as well as developing valuable skills in public speaking, creative expression and teamwork.School Health Clubs supporting healthier communitiesThe pupils who took part in the Chanuka Challenge are all members of School Health Clubs set up by the Kenya Red Cross as part of theCommunity Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) funded by USAID.The clubs help primary and secondary school pupils learn how to protect themselves from various disease threats, stay healthy, and spread their knowledge to their fellow pupils, families, and wider communities.They usually meet on a weekly basis, covering topics such as proper handwashing, the importance of human and animal vaccination, and how to recognize signs of different diseases.Why involve school children in preparing for epidemics and pandemics?“It is important to learn about health because it helps us to prevent diseases against our bodies and also to prevent diseases against the communities,” explains Ann Gakii, pupil and secretary of the Rwatha School Health Club in Tharaka Nithi.Brimming with passion, energy, and a desire to support their families and communities, school pupils like Ann can play a really valuable role in preparing for and preventing disease outbreaks.“When given the right knowledge, encouragement and support, school pupils can be powerful agents of change within their communities. We’ve seen health club members take their new knowledge to their communities and support them to adopt healthier behaviours that are keeping them safe from disease threats,”explains Naomi Ngaruiya,CP3 Programme Coordinator with Kenya Red Cross.“We’re delighted to support so many children across Kenya through School Health Clubs and it was a complete joy to see their enthusiasm and creativity throughout the Chanuka Challenge. We hope to run an even bigger and better version of the event in future!”--The activities featured in this article are part of the multi-country Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3). Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supports communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletteror visit theKenya Red Cross website.

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Article

Uganda Ebola outbreak 2022: The importance of safe and dignified burials

In countries around the world, burial rituals—whether cultural, traditional, or religious—are an important way of honouring the dead and helping people grieve. For many communities, special burial practices enable them to bid farewell to their loved ones in a respectful and meaningful way.Losing someone is never easy. But what if someone you love passes away, and you’re told that the burial traditions your community holds dear may put you all in danger?This is what happened to people in Mubende, Uganda, in September 2022 when the country declared its first outbreak of Ebola in more than a decade. The government barred communities from burying their loved ones due to the risks involved, declaring that burials should be managed by trained safe and dignified burial teams.Ebola is a cruel disease. Deadly when left untreated, and highly contagious, it’s transmitted from person to person through direct contact and bodily fluids. When someone is infected, their families and friends are unable to provide hands-on care. And when someone dies from Ebola, their body continues to be highly contagious for up to seven days, meaning that safe and dignified burial measures must be followed to prevent further infection.Kuteesa Samuel from Mubende knows this all too well. He lost his wife of 20 years, Monica, to Ebola during the 2022 outbreak. Monica was seven months pregnant at the time, meaning Samuel also lost his unborn child.In Samuel’s culture, it’s customary to wash and wrap the body of the deceased. And if a pregnant woman dies in the community, tradition dictates that the foetus is buried in a separate grave. But during Ebola, these practices would have posed a deadly threat to people’s health.Knowing this, the Uganda Red Cross Society were poised to step in.Local, known, trustedUganda Red Cross staff and volunteers are part of the fabric of society in Uganda. They come from the communities they serve, follow the same local customs, and have a deep understanding of people’s needs and sensitivities when disaster strikes.They therefore understood why Samuel’s community felt scared, confused, and reluctant to abandon their traditions.But following sensitive, patient, and repeated engagement from local Red Cross volunteers—who worked hand-in-hand with local health authorities and community leaders—Samuel’s community agreed to a compromise. Monica’s body was left intact and safely buried by trained Red Cross teams following strict health and safety protocols. While a banana flower was symbolically buried in a separate grave to mark the loss of Samuel’s unborn child. “After the health workers engaged and explained everything to us, we came to an understanding. […] If it wasn’t for Uganda Red Cross, we would not even know where the deceased would be buried. They helped us to bury the deceased to ensure we don’t get infected. So, we greatly appreciate the Red Cross,” explains Samuel.Preparedness saves livesSince the last Ebola outbreak in 2012, the Uganda Red Cross Society had worked hard to improve its preparedness for future health emergencies and strengthen its auxiliary role supporting the Ministry of Health during disease outbreaks.With support from the IFRC through the USAID-funded Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), as well as through an Ebola preparedness emergency appeal (2018-2021) and a Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) operation (2018-2020), they undertook lots of different preparedness activities across different parts of the country.Emergency preparedness involves planning for the worst, so one of those activities was developing a pool of qualified safe and dignified burials trainers and teams across the country. These teams were ready to be deployed immediately to support communities like Samuel’s when the 2022 Ebola outbreak began.“CP3 was so instrumental to this response. We were only able to respond on time because we had done preparations. We already had prepared teams, and this enabled us to swiftly respond,” explains Dr Joseph Kasumba, Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Officer with the Uganda Red Cross who led the response.Humanity in the darkest of momentsDuring the 2022 Ebola outbreak, Uganda Red Cross teams conducted a total of 512 safe and dignified burials. These efforts contributed to the outbreak being declared over in a record four months.What’s harder to quantify is the emotional support and meaningful care that Red Cross teams provided to communities in perhaps the worst moments of their lives. For that, here’s some powerful testimony from those affected by Ebola, or involved in the response:“When it comes to Ebola Virus Disease, communities always need someone they can trust, people they can identify with. And the fact that the Red Cross is always part of the community... we know what cultural practices are done. We know what the community wants us to do and they feel confident identifying with us, even in that time of grief and sorrow.” - Dr Joseph Kasumba“We really thank the health workers because they taught us how to protect ourselves. We are still grateful for what they did. It was a miracle for us.” - Janet, Mubende resident“Since Ebola started in Mubende, it is the Red Cross that has walked with us. Every community knows Red Cross here. We appreciate you for the work you’ve done. The people of Mubende appreciate you for offering your lives to stand in the gap and save lives.” - Rosemary Byabashaija – Resident District Commissioner in MubendeIf you found this story interesting and would like to learn more:Visit the Uganda Red Cross Society websiteClick here to learn more about the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3). Funded by USAID, CP3 supports communities, National Societies, and other partners in seven countries to prepare for, prevent, detect, and respond to disease threats.Sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.

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Press release

Global leaders call for commitment to end the cholera emergency

On Wednesday 29 May 2024, seven countries and 10 major health partners affiliated with the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) came together in a powerful show of multisectoral commitment to end the global cholera emergency. The convening – a side event in observance of the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) – took place as cholera continues to ravage communities across the world, with vaccine supplies unable to meet escalating needs.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) – in partnership with the GTFCC – co-hosted the side event, urging immediate collective action with only six years left to meet the GTFCC’s 2030 global roadmap goals. Titled Uniting Against the Global Cholera Emergency: Empowering Communities, Facilitating Multisectoral Actions, and Galvanizing Resources, the event took place at IFRC’s office in Geneva, Switzerland and gathered representatives from national governments, international non-governmental organizations, donor and partner organizations, and UN agencies.Global health leaders focused on the critical need for sustainable funding to advance safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, strengthen disease surveillance in cholera hotspots and scale up local oral cholera vaccine manufacturing. Case management and continuous community engagement for infection prevention were also discussed.Health ministers and national representatives from Bangladesh, Lebanon, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Zimbabwe, speaking on behalf of cholera-affected countries, underscored the urgency of a coordinated multisectoral approach, particularly given the compounding impacts of climate-related factors, economic insecurity, conflict, urbanization, population growth and population displacement.Cholera, a severe diarrheal disease, that also affects children, has been a persistent global health challenge, specifically affecting communities with limited access to clean water and sanitation. In recent years, the world has witnessed an acute resurgence of the long-standing cholera pandemic, with 23 countries currently reporting outbreaks, along with deaths numbering in the thousands.In his opening remarks as co-host, IFRC Secretary General, Mr Jagan Chapagain, said: “We cannot accept such a staggering loss of life to a disease that is entirely preventable and treatable with the tools we have in the 21st century. This event serves as a stark reminder that there is much more work to do as we approach 2030. We must urgently refocus our efforts and elevate cholera control to the forefront of global dialogues, while backing it with tangible investments at the grassroot level.”The cholera upsurge has placed pressure on health systems, and the demand for vaccines has far exceeded available supplies, which prompted agencies to instate emergency measures to manage the available stockpile in 2022. Mr. Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, emphasized, “We have significantly increased vaccine supplies over the past decade, and the stockpile is currently replenished after depleting at the start of 2024 after responding to cholera emergencies. With the new simplified Oral Cholera Vaccine, we are on track to reach 50 million doses in 2024, a 30% increase from 2023. He added, in reference to Gavi’s efforts to raise funds for its work from 2026 to 2030, including financing the global OCV stockpile, preventive and emergency vaccination, and cholera diagnostics: “The replenishment is for all of us, and I invite you to be ambassadors for that.”WHO Deputy Director General and Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Michael Ryan, called cholera “a diabolic poster child of climate change, of poverty, and of social injustice at every level.” Dr Ryan also reminded attendees that cholera is “a pandemic that has never ended,” noting that the ultimate solution to ending the disease lies in universal access to safe water and sanitation. “The cholera vaccine is a poor substitute for a clean glass of water,” he said.UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Mr Ted Chaiban highlighted the importance of community engagement in ensuring a cholera-free future, calling for “additional resources and immediate actions to ensure access to safe WASH for all communities,” given that “2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water and 3.6 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation.”Ms. Christine Toudic, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, called for further mobilization of partners to confront cholera, a disease primarily affecting communities in countries with the most fragile health systems. Ms. Toudic announced that the French government’s commitment will be reaffirmed in Paris on June 20, 2024, at a high-level event convened jointly with the African Union, Gavi, and Team Europe partners for the launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) and the 2026-2030 Gavi replenishment.As the world confronts the ongoing challenges of seemingly never-ending cholera outbreaks, coordinated global efforts and sustained investments are critical. The GTFCC and its partners remain dedicated to empowering communities, facilitating multisectoral actions, and galvanizing resources to end cholera, all of which was confirmed during the side event. This reality was underscored by the involvement of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Wellcome, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in the event.The message was – and remains – clear: achieving global health equity, security and resilience requires the defeat of cholera.About Cholera OutbreaksIn 2022, 44 countries reported cholera cases, a 25% increase from the 35 countries that reported cases in 2021. While the full data for 2023 will be published by WHO later this year, preliminary trends indicate that the situation continues to be concerning. Since the beginning of 2023, a total of total of 824 479 cholera cases and 5900 deaths were reported. This is a stark underrepresentation of the actual cholera burden, as detection and reporting capacities are hampered by inadequate access to conflict-affected areas, limited surveillance capacities, stigma, etc. A particular area of concern is the high Case Fatality Rate (CFR), which currently exceeds the 1% threshold in several areas. Seven nations – including Comoros, DRC, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, Yemen, and Zimbabwe – are currently facing acute crises. Outbreaks are also emerging in regions that have not experienced cholera in decades, such as Syria, Lebanon, South Africa, Eswatini, and the French department of Mayotte. The urgency required to address and contain these outbreaks cannot be overstated, with 1 billion people are at risk for cholera infection.Speakers and RepresentativesProminent speakers included Hon. Dr Firass Abiad, Minister of Health from Lebanon, Hon. Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Minister of Health and Child Care from Zimbabwe, Hon. Pradeep Yadav, Minister of Health and Population from Nepal, Mr. Md Mamunur Rashid, Joint Secretary with the Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Nitta Nayeja, Deputy Head of Clinical Services from Malawi’s Ministry of Health, Dr Sofia Viegas, Deputy General Director from Mozambique’s National Institute of Health (INS), and Ms Christine Toudic, Deputy Permanent Representatives from the Permanent Mission of France to the UN.Other high-level speakers included Mr. Jagan Chapagain, IFRC Secretary General, Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO Deputy Director General and Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Mr. Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General from the Africa CDC, Dr. Kayla Laserson, Director of the Global Health Center from the US CDC, Dr Maria Guevara, International Medical Secretary from MSF, Mr Stuart Vallis, Health and WASH Representative from SDC, Dr. John-Arne Røttingen, Chief Executive Officer from Wellcome, Ms Rachel Toku-Appiah, Director of Program Advocacy and Communications (Africa) from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Mr Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.For more information or to request interviews, contact:[email protected] Geneva: Andrew Thomas: +41 763676587 / Tommaso Della Longa +41 797 084367

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Podcast

Dr. Asha Mohammed: From dentist to humanitarian leader, her passion and leadership now focused on Africa’s biggest challenges

Dr. Asha Mohammed began her career as a dentist in low-income communities in Kenya. Her passion for helping others and her evident leadership skills led her to key roles battling HiV/AIDS and, eventually, to the role of Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross. She now serves as IFRC’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and International Organizations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From there, she’s taking on climate change, a massive regional hunger crisis, and outbreaks of infectious diseases, among other challenges. In this episode, she talks about the solutions to those challenges. And what it was like being a pioneering woman leader in public health. “When I mentor young women, I tell them, ‘You can be what you want to be. It's really about understanding that you have these different roles to play and that you can find the right balance.”

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Article

Guinea Red Cross supports communities in the fight against rabies

Little Ousmane was at home in Faranah, central Guinea, when he noticed a stray dog outside. Curious and wanting to play, he approached the creature. But before he had time to react, the dog leapt up aggressively and bit him on the chest and hand.His grandfather alerted the local Guinea Red Cross volunteers, who arrived quickly to tend to Ousmane, wash out his wounds, and track down the dog for investigation. Thankfully, they were able to arrange for Ousmane to get the necessary health treatment. Lab testing later confirmed the dog had rabies, meaning that without the quick action from volunteers, Ousmane likely wouldn’t have survived.An incident like this is a parent’s worst nightmare and a common worry among communities in Guinea. But through theCommunity Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), funded by USAID, the Guinea Red Cross is running different activities to reduce rabies risks and make sure deadly dog bites are a thing of the past.Raising community awarenessPreventing the spread of diseases like rabies relies on communities having accurate and trusted information on how they can stay safe.Guinea Red Cross volunteers, known and trusted by their communities, regularly go door-to-door, organize community meetings, and take part in local radio shows—educating people on rabies risks, how it’s spread, and how they can protect themselves.Through this engagement, communities learn the importance of reporting stray animals displaying unusual or aggressive behaviours and of looking out for signs of rabies within their own pets.Supporting vaccination campaignsVaccinating dogs is the most effective preventive measure for reducing the risk of rabies.But for a rabies vaccination drive to be successful, people in the community need to see the value of vaccinating their pets and—crucially—turn up in their droves on the day.That’s where the Guinea Red Cross comes in. While the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock provides the vaccines and veterinary staff to administer them, it’s Guinea Red Cross volunteers who drum up demand within communities and accompany people to their appointments.“Thanks to the vaccination campaign, which we heard about from Red Cross volunteers, our dogs are no longer a threat—they are healthy companions. It’s an act of responsibility for the security of everyone. Vaccinating dogs protects our community,”explains Mamadi Fofana, a traditional healer and hunter from Faranah who was convinced to vaccinate his dogs against rabies.Keeping tabs on the canine populationRabies vaccines don’t last forever, with animals requiring booster shots every 1-3 years to keep them rabies-free. So the Guinea Red Cross has set up a dog database to keep tabs on the canine population in Faranah.Volunteers track when and how many vaccine doses have been administered, and record owner details so they can reach out when it’s time for a booster.If a bite incident occurs, the database helps them to track down the owner to investigate and conduct further engagement around the importance of taking responsibility for their animals.The data is also used by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock so they know how many doses of vaccines are needed when planning dog vaccination drives.Bite response and community-based surveillanceWhen someone in Faranah is scratched or bitten by a potentially rabid animal, Guinea Red Cross volunteers are usually the first to hear about it and arrive on scene.Trained in epidemic control, they can provide crucial first aid. For suspected rabies, this involves vigorously washing out the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and wrapping it in a clean bandage while awaiting emergency health care.Through a digital community-based surveillance system, calledNyss, volunteers quickly report bite incidents to their supervisors, who can then escalate the alert to local human, animal, and environmental health authorities for rapid investigation and treatment.Time is of the essence when someone is bitten. As the eyes and ears within local communities, Guinea Red Cross volunteers play a vital role in detecting and alerting suspected rabies cases early to maximize people’s chances of survival.The fight against rabies in Guinea is a marathon not a sprint. But with patient and continued engagement with local communities and strong collaboration with authorities in rapidly reporting and responding to bites, the Guinea Red Cross is supporting people in Faranah to stay safe and healthy from this deadly disease.---The activities featured in this article are part of the multi-countryCommunity Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3).Funded by theU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supports communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more,sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.

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World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: How a vigilant volunteer helped thwart an emerging cholera outbreak

The city of Tog Wajaale, perched on the Somaliland-Ethiopia border, serves as a crucial crossing point for people and goods, particularly those coming and going from the port of Berbera, located about 300 kilometers away on the Gulf of Aden.It is also a place where an outbreak of any infectious disease could travel quickly — and far — because of the high levels of commerce and people passing through.That’s one reason the swift action of a Red Crescent community health volunteer Nimao Abdi Bade was so critical during the first days of a cholera outbreak in January 2024.Spotting a family with severe symptoms, Nimao recognized the signs and reported their case via a platform managed by the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), which then triggered a swift official response from health authorities and the rapid activation of resources from IFRC's Disaster Resonse Emergency Fund.It turned to be the first reported case ofacute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and cholera in Somaliland and it led to a combined and coordinated response that greatly reduced the impact of the outbreak.A vigilant volunteerNimao's vigilance didn't stop at the first case. Tracing the family's contacts, she uncovered more potential cases involving people who had recently crossed the border. This led to confirmation of several cholera cases and a Ministry of Health intervention.Trained by SRCS to identify and reportcases ofacute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and cholera and inspired by her success, she urged others to report illnesses promptly."AWD/Cholera was new to us," Nimao says. "But SRCS training equipped us to respond. I am so proud of myself and being a volunteer of SRCS."The outbreak prompted SRCS to deploy more volunteers for house-to-house visits and hygiene promotion.Nimao's commitment went beyond initial reporting. During her house-to-house visits, she identified five additional cross-border cases, promptly reporting them. These reports, verified by SRCS Community Health Officer Roda Mohamoud Mohamed, led to further investigations. The following day, six more suspected cases were reported and escalated to the Ministry of Health.Empowered by her success, Nimao has become a champion for timely reporting and community-based surveillance. Her diligence exemplifies the vital role volunteers play in strengthening public health responses.SRCS also responded by mobilizing volunteers in Wajaale, another town on the Ethiopian-Somaliland border, and the surrounding areas, as well as the nearby Marodijeh region. The focus shifted to house-to-house visits, hygiene promotion, and raising community awareness about AWD/Cholera risks and prevention.

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Keeping humanity alive by helping communities stay safe from infectious diseases

In the outskirts of Bongor, a town on the western border of Chad, volunteers from the local Red Cross and the French Red Cross are hard at work.In a residential area teeming with children and animals — and under daily scorching heat — the volunteers are organising activities with the community aimed at helping prevent and control the spread of infectious disease.The community here lacks the infrastructure needed to deliver safe water or discharge their wastewater. And because public fountains used for gathering water are not maintained rigorously, the risk of infection here is high.Lack of sanitation systems means that other risky practices, such as open defecation, pose significant hygienic and epidemiological risks.For this reason, the volunteers are raising public awareness about ways people can protect themselves from infection, such as proper cleaning and sanitation of water sources as well as practices to avoid.“The activities raised real awareness among community members,” says Catherine, a 26-year-old volunteer for the Chad Red Cross and local resident. “We notice in particular that the vaccination centre is much busier.”A pharmacy technician, Catherine has been volunteering with the Chad Red Cross for more than a year. She is responsible for raising awareness of the dangers of open defecation.Red Cross volunteers and community members are mobilised three times a week to clean areas most at risk and raise awareness of good practices.“The project will continue to live on its own on the principle of the community transmitting [this information] to the community,” Catherine adds.Catherine is passionate about her work to build knowledge and resilience in her community, and stop diseases from spreading. “The objective,” she explains, “is to fight measles, yellow fever, poliomyelitis, Guinea worm and COVID-19”.The Red Cross volunteers use community disease surveillance methods to keep people safe – recording health-related data about specific issues or incidence of illness affecting the community, and encouraging people to report suspected cases.For Marie-Claire, a state-certified nurse and resident of Bongor who manages a women-led health centre in the city, the Red Cross efforts are effective because they have built trust with people in the community."The Red Cross serves as a trusted intermediary between residents and the health centre,” she says. “The Red Crossconducts disease surveillance and sends pregnant women or those suspected of illnesses for consultations [with the health centre]."The volunteers’ disease-prevention work in various neighbourhoods of Bongor is supported by the Programmatic Partnership between the IFRC network and the European Union. The partnership provides strategic, flexible, long-term and predictable funding, so that National Societies can act before a crisis or health emergency occurs. It is being implemented in 24 countries around the world.

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World Immunization Week: Vaccination is serious business. But who says it can’t also be fun.

No one likes being poked with a needle. Especially kids who may be having some shots for the first time. Like many National Society efforts around the world, the Red Crescent Society of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan (RCSK) tries its best to make taking a shot a little bit easier.Their approach often takes on a colorful, lively and even fun dimension as volunteers do their best to entertain potentially reluctant children. Given the potentially deadly consequences of being unvaccinated in the face of recent measles outbreaks, this approach is having a very serious and positive impact on increasing immunization rates.“When I heard about the hundreds of children getting sick with measles every week, as a mother of two young children, I knew I had to act”, says RCSK volunteer Kyzy Minagul.“When we were assigned by our branch to work at the local vaccination center to help with the crowd management, the centers were full of crying and screaming children who received their shots. I thought ‘it’s no wonder that parents are avoiding having their children to go to vaccination centers’.“I talked with other fellow volunteers about how we can make the vaccination experience less stressful. We dressed up as popular cartoon characters and greeted children and parents as they come to vaccination centers. While we can’t take away the shot in the arm part, we tried to make the environment more child friendly”.At the forefrontThe RCSK has been at the forefront of the national response to the measles epidemic in the country throughout the last year and this year. With the support of the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF), the National Society has been actively responding to the current epidemic between August 2023 and March 2024. In total, IFRC-DREF has allocated CHF 187,979 to bolster the RCSK’s efforts in curbing the outbreak, aiming to reach 120,000 people across the most affected regions and cities.Some 325 volunteers have been mobilized across the country tosupport the measles and rubella immunization campaign. RCSK places a strong focus on zero–dose and under-immunized children in these activities.One of those people reached is Nurgul, ayoung mother of three who lives in Kara-Balta town, a small town about a one-and-a-half hour drive from Bishkek, the capital city.Nurgul had chosen not to vaccinate any of her children. When she was approached by Red Crescent volunteers, she was skeptical about vaccination at first, having heard so many stories and rumours about the safety of vaccines.Volunteers met withNurgul and thoroughly discussed the benefits of vaccination, backing up their arguments with data on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. After a series of conversations and her own research,Nurgul decided to go and vaccinate her children against measles.“Volunteers played an indispensable role in educating the parents about measles and rubella vaccination during this outbreak”, said Dr. Gulbara Ishenapysova, director of the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis, the main technical agency responsible for the national immunization programme under the Ministry of Health.“It takes organizations like the RCSK, which has a large network across the country, to swiftly mobilize such a large number of trained volunteers and increase the trust of communities in the vaccination campaigns organized by us, the health workers.”Despite the vaccination campaigns in main cities and most affected regions, the epidemic continues to this day and the RCSK plans to support the next measles immunization campaign planned for May 2024.

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World Immunization Week: Delivering vaccines and trustworthy information to communities around the world

A mother of four and restaurant owner from Dabola, in central Guinea, Diaraye says she felt scared about vaccines. She didn’t think she had enough information and she’d heard rumours about harmful side effects.Several health workers came to visit her to try and convince her to vaccinate her newborn, Madiou, but she still felt uneasy.That was until she met Bérété, a Guinea Red Cross supervisor with theCommunity Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3).A mother herself, Bérété connected with Diaraye and patiently explained how vaccinating her own children has kept them safe from diseases. She responded sensitively to Diaraye’s concerns.Newly informed and confident, Diaraye agreed for Bérété to take baby Madiou for his first immunizations. Since then, Diaraye has become a champion for vaccination within her community.“My advice to mothers is to agree to their children getting vaccinated," says Diaraye. "Since the Red Cross came to help me vaccinate my baby, I’ve seen that it’s good for children. And I tell all mothers to go and get their children vaccinated at the health centre.”A global story, playing out locally, house-by-houseDiaraya’s story is far from unique. People around the world often don’t have access to life-saving vaccines, do not have all the facts about how they work, or don’t know who they can trust to give them accurate and unbiased information.This is why trusted community organizations, like Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, are playing a critical role in reaching out at the local level, providing trustworthy information while enabling access to vaccines in places that are underserved by health services. In many cases, they are in the midst of ongoing emergencies.This year, World Immunization Week revolves around the theme of Humanly Possible, also the name of a global campaign to celebrate and build on the achievements made in protecting people from preventable diseases during the last 75 years.For its part, the IFRC is redoubling efforts to bring awareness and vaccines to people in vulnerable situations — conflict, outbreaks, forced migration, natural disaster — or who lack access to immunization services for whatever reason.The approach varies to meet the specific situation of each county. They also span the globe, from National Societies in Guinea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, andKyrgyzstan,and many others. Here are a few more examples of the ways Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are taking on a wide range of very different immunization challenges.Philippine Red Cross takes on another measles outbreakThe Philippine Red Cross Society (PRCS) has been supporting the government of ThePhilippinesin responding to a measles outbreak by vaccinating more than 15,000 children ages 6 months to below 10 years old with measles vaccine.As of April 14, 2024, the Philippine Red Cross has vaccinated more than 15,500 children, mobilizing a total of 131 volunteers (35 vaccinators and 96 support volunteers) in 85 communities in four provinces.The PRCS’ measles outbreak response is being donein collaboration with the ICRC, which also has a long-time presence in theBangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, an area where people are impacted by internal conflict. Because of low immunization rates in the area, It's also one of the main places in the country where the measles outbreak is happening.The PRCShas been part of other polio and measles outbreak responses and plans to expand this current operation by deploying vaccination teams from other chapters, with the help ofresources from the IFRC and the United States Center for Disease Control.Using innovation to improve access to immunization in ThailandThe Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS), meanwhile, has been using technology in innovative ways tobring immunization services to people who would not otherwise have access to immunization services.In Thailand, many displaced people and undocumented residents are living without proper forms of identification required to access vaccination services. To address the health gap, TRCS partnered with the Department of Disease Control of the Ministry of Public Health and Thailand’s National Electronics and Computer Technology Center to develop the Thai Red Cross Biometric Authentication System.This system uses a biometric authentication system, using face and iris recognition technology — while still ensuring data privacy — to accurately identify and register vaccine recipients.This allows people without official documentation to still receive vaccines and it enables a way to keep a record of the vaccinations received.Using this technology, TRCS reached 20,000 adolescent girls (specifically ethnic minorities, migrants, and refugees) living in temporary shelters across the country with 40,000 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. This helped to significantly decrease their chances of getting HPV, a major, but vaccine-preventable cause of cervical cancer.If this can be expanded, more displaced persons and undocumented residents can be assured to have access to their next essential vaccine, such as a booster shot.Local presence, ready to prevent and respondOver the long term, immunization campaigns are only fully effective if they are of high quality and result in high rates of coverage. The challenge now is to improve and strengthen routine immunisation to better prevents future outbreaks, while also ensuring there is capacity in place to respond quickly and engage communities — if and when outbreaks occur.This is why the work of National Societies is so critical. As national organizations with widespread local presence, they are ideally suited to work with local and national health authorities and communities to build trust while delivering consistent access to immunization. The video below shows how the Pakistan Red Crescent brings immunization through local clinics.Back in Guinea, Red Cross volunteer Bérété continues to visit Diaraye to make sure her son Madiou is doing well, as part of her work engaging members of her community on how to protect themselves and their families.“We keep supporting her, because every time I send her child to hospital to be vaccinated, I never forget to follow up,”explains Bérété. “Every morning I come to see her to check on the child. Because you can’t just vaccinate a child and leave without following up. If she can see that you are there for her at all times, she will have the courage” to keep up with necessary immunizations in the future.

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Stopping a measles outbreak in its tracks in Sierra Leone

Makuma is a remote coastal village nestled in the north-west corner of Sierra Leone, on the border with Guinea. It’s only accessible by one narrow and bumpy dirt track. Its 2,000 or so inhabitants travel by foot or on motorbikes in the drier months. But when waters rise in the rainy season from May to December, the track becomes unusable—cutting people off from their nearest health centre, some 10km away.Its isolated location, coupled with the high risk of infectious diseases in Sierra Leone, means Makuma could be the perfect breeding ground for an epidemic, if it weren’t for one thing: the presence of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society.Momoh Saio Kamara is Makuma’s local Red Cross volunteer. He grew up in the village and is much loved and trusted, thanks to his work supporting people through the 2014/15 Ebola outbreak.In 2019, Momoh was trained in epidemic control and community-based surveillance through the USAID-funded Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3)—acquiring the skills and tools needed to detect, alert, and respond to disease outbreaks early.So when, in early 2022, people in Makuma started noticing strange symptoms of a mystery illness they’d never seen before, Momoh knew exactly what to do.“One day I was in the village doing house visits. I visited my friend who said there is someone—the nose is red, the mouth is red, the nose runs and there is a rash. I go and look and I thought straight away, it is measles,” explains Momoh.Without hesitating, Momoh alerted his supervisor, Jobel, using a digital community-based surveillance system set up through the CP3 programme. Jobel arrived shortly afterwards on his motorbike to investigate. Seeing the symptoms for himself, he escalated the alert in the system—notifying district health authorities in an instant.“After the alert, I rang the local nurse and called a community meeting to tell the people it is suspected measles,” adds Momoh.A highly contagious viral infection, measles spreads easily among the unvaccinated. It’s a serious illness that can require hospital admission, cause permanent disability, and even kill if not treated properly.Local nurses swiftly arrived and started tracing and registering suspected cases, while Momoh and Jobel went house-to-house to tell people how to stay safe.The following day, a Rapid Response Team from Kambia district hospital arrived to undertake testing, conduct a ring vaccination of nearly 800 children to minimize further infection, and tend to patients.“The Red Cross and District Health Management Team they come. It did not take long. When they arrived, again we called a meeting, we talked to the community. We told them these people have medicine and it is free,” explains Momoh.For N’Mah, a woman from Makuma whose young son caught measles, having Momoh by her side was a huge relief.“My son Morlai fell sick. I had no idea what the illness was and I felt worried and restless. Momoh held a community meeting to let people know he thought it was measles. He told us what he knew about the disease and asked people to tell him if they noticed anyone with the same symptoms. He told us to keep our environment as clean as possible, wash our hands properly, and isolate anyone who showed signs of the illness. I felt really happy because the health services came really quickly,” explains N’Mah.Momoh is one of 250 volunteers in Kambia district trained through the CP3 programme. Together, they are the eyes and ears in hard-to-reach communities, making sure no suspicious health event goes undetected.A total of 124 measles cases were eventually recorded during the outbreak in Makuma. The number could have been significantly higher had it not been for Momoh’s early action, the trust placed in him by his community, and the rapid response from local health authorities.“The successful response which prevented deaths and disability is a result of the early detection and reporting by theRed Cross volunteers, followed by a swift response from the District Health Management Team. It is no exaggeration to say that these volunteers help greatly towards the health care delivery system in Kambia district, especially in public health surveillance,” explains Ishmael Rogers, Kambia District Surveillance Officer.For Makuma village Councillor, Yusif, who has steered his community through difficult times such as Ebola and COVID-19 in recent years, the relief at having Red Cross support in keeping his people healthy is palpable.“I feel happy that Momoh is here. He’s always available for our community – any day, any time. He’s very patient. When our people are sick, he makes sure they are taken to hospital. I feel my community is safe with Momoh. God forbid there is another outbreak, we know Momoh is here for us.”--The rapid outbreak detection and response reported in this article were made possible thanks to the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3).Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the programme supports communities, National Societies, and other partners in seven countries to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more:Sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness NewsletterFollow the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society on X, Facebook and LinkedInTo learn more about community-based surveillance initiatives within the IFRC please visit cbs.ifrc.org

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World Health Day 2024

Everyone, everywhere should have access to good health care and the basic ingredients to a healthy life. The theme of World Health Day in 2024 is 'My Health, My Right', and we could not agree more. Access to health care is a basic human right. My health, my right also means a healthy environment, safe food and water, and strong community readiness for emergencies and epidemics. Sadly, access to those basic ingredients are under threat, due to conflict, climate events, natural calamity and extreme poverty. We invite you to join our ongoing efforts to help people around the world access this most basic of human rights.

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Joint statement: Millions at risk from cholera due to lack of clean water, soap and toilets, and shortage of cholera vaccine

Geneva/New York, 20 March 2024 – Immediate action is needed to stem an unprecedented multi-year upsurge in cholera cases worldwide, according to the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision. Actions include investing in access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, testing and detecting outbreaks quickly, improving quality of and access to healthcare, and fast-tracking additional production of affordable oral cholera vaccine (OCV) doses to better prevent cases.The ICG manages the global cholera vaccine stockpile.The group includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF and WHO. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, finances the vaccine stockpile and the delivery of OCV. ICG members are calling for governments, donors, vaccine manufacturers, partners and communities to join in an urgent effort to halt and reverse the rise in cholera.Cholera has been surging globally since 2021, with the 473000 cases reported to WHO in 2022, more than double those reported in 2021.Preliminary data for 2023 reveal further increases, with over 700000 cases reported. Several of the outbreaks have high case fatality rates, exceeding the 1% threshold used as an indicator for early and adequate treatment of cholera patients. These trends are tragic given that cholera is a preventable and treatable disease and that cases had been declining in previous years. Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with faeces containing the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.The rise in cholera is being driven by persistent gaps in access to safe water and sanitation. Although efforts are being made to close these gaps in places, in many others the gaps are growing, driven by climate-related factors, economic insecurity, conflict, and population displacement.Safely managed water and sanitation are prerequisites for stopping the transmission of cholera.Currently, the most severely impacted countries include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Now more than ever, countries must adopt a multisectoral response to fight cholera.Members of the ICG call on currently and potentially affected countries to take urgent steps to ensure their populations have access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation services, and the information critical to prevent cholera’s spread. The establishment of these services requires political will and investment at the country level.This includes creating capacity for early detection and response, enhanced disease detection, rapid access to treatment and care, and working closely with communities, including on risk communication and community engagement.The severe gap in the number of available vaccine doses, compared with the level of current need, puts unprecedented pressure on theglobal stockpile of vaccines. Between 2021 and 2023, more doses were requested for outbreak response than the entire previous decade.In October 2022, the ongoing vaccine shortage necessitated the ICG to recommend a single vaccine dose, down from a previous, long-standing two-dose regimen. Approximately 36 million doses were produced last year, while 14 affected countries registered a need for 72 million doses for a one-dose reactive strategy. These requests understate the true need. Preventive vaccination campaigns have had to be delayed to preserve doses for emergency outbreak control efforts, creating a vicious cycle. The change in strategy enabled available vaccines to protect more people and respond to more cholera outbreaks amid the ongoing supply shortfall, but a return to a two-dose regimen and a resumption of preventive vaccination would provide longer protection.Global production capacity in 2024 is forecast to be 37-50 million doses but will likely continue to be inadequate to serve the needs of millions of people directly affected by cholera.Only one manufacturer, EuBiologics, currently produces the vaccine; while the company is doing its utmost to maximize output, more doses are needed. Currently, new manufacturers are not expected to join the market before 2025; they must be fast-tracked. The same urgency and innovation that we saw for COVID-19 must be applied to cholera.Additional manufacturers planning to enter the market need to accelerate their efforts and make doses available at affordable prices.We appeal to vaccine manufacturers, governments, donors and partners to prioritize an urgent scale-up of vaccine production, and to invest in all the efforts needed to prevent and control cholera.About the ICGPress release on dosing strategyGlobal task force on cholera controlIFRC on choleraUNICEF: cholera is endangering children globallyWHO on the cholera upsurge, including monthly situation reportsMedia contactsIFRC Email: [email protected]: Lukas Nef,Mobile: +41792400790Email: [email protected]: Sarah Al Hattab, UNICEF in New YorkTelephone: +1 917-957-6536Email: [email protected] Media TeamEmail: [email protected]

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Cholera: Outbreak silences a once vibrant town in southwestern Zimbabwe

Where children would normally be playing, it is now quiet on the streets of Mapanza, a small village in the southwest of Zimbabwe. The communal gatherings for meals have ceased, laughter is absent, and everyday clothing has been replaced by rain boots and protective suits.The village is grappling with a relentless cholera outbreak, starkly highlighting the severity of the disease.On a recent day of heavy rains, puddles surround the three large tents in the middle of the village. Medical personnel with masks and gloves move in and out of the tents. IV drips are carried into the tent where the most critical patients lie.In the other two tents, health workers attend to patients whose conditions have stabilized. Occasionally, a curious child peeks out from the tent. She appears to be about five years old.As we walk further into the village, we encounter Alec. "It likely started at a church service where many people gathered," says Alec, friendly and energetic man who lives in the village and who personally experienced how quickly cholera can strike without mercy. "Shortly after that, people started getting sick."Sources of contaminationIn addition, the community shares one water source, which got contaminated. Since cholera easily spreads through water, nearly half of the village was estimated to have fallen ill. There are no healthcare facilities in the area, exacerbating the situation to a critical level within hours.People were lying on the ground with nowhere to go, Alec recalls. "People started experiencing severe diarrhea and vomiting profusely,” he said. “Almost half of the compound population was down, and a local couple tried to ferry as many people as possible to the hospital in Chiredzi, but it was overwhelming. The worst affected were children and women; people also died." Alec also had to fight for his life. After he fell ill, his wife waited anxiously for news about her husband. She couldn't be with him and didn't know his condition. It was a nerve-wracking period.An immediate responseToday, when visitors come to the village, it's hard to grasp that this nightmare happened just a few weeks ago. While the events still loom large over the community, and things are still far from normal, fewer people are falling ill and very few are dying, thanks to those who mobilized to help.Volunteers from the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) immediately supported the Ministry of Health and Child Care, bringing tents, medical supplies, and "oral rehydration solutions" so that people could be safely treated and no longer had to lie on the ground. Together with the Ministry of Health, they were able to control the outbreak.Even now, volunteers are everywhere in the village. Many of them, such as Alec's wife, are community members who volunteered after experiencing what cholera did to their loved ones. She now participates in door-to-door campaigns, informing people about how to protect themselves so that an outbreak of this magnitude does not happen again.Since the beginning of the outbreak, ZRCS volunteers and staff have been taking action to combat the spread of cholera and provide care for patients. The Red Cross has also been supporting the Ministry of Health in setting up a cholera treatment centre to allow individuals with symptoms of cholera access to appropriate care.Volunteers have also been visiting communities to inform people on how to protect themselves and their loved ones, as well as what to do if they become ill.To jumpstart the initial response, the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) allocated CHF 500,000 and soon after, the IFRC launched an emergency appeal seeking CHF 3 million in order to to reach more than 550,000 people with life-saving assistance and help to contain the outbreak.

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