September 2026

Summary Background: The growing number of zero-dose children, those who have never received a routine vaccine, poses a major threat to global immunization efforts and increases the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. Although…

Summary Background: Uganda is a recognised zoonotic hotspot and has invested heavily since 2017 in detecting priority zoonoses through the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2). Whether that investment has been matched by fewer…

Summary Background: Timely laboratory reporting is essential for situational awareness and decision-making during outbreak response. Following confirmation of the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in Uganda in May 2026, the national…

Summary Background: WHO recommends parasitological confirmation of suspected malaria using microscopy or mRDTs. In Uganda, microscopy is expected at higher-level facilities, while mRDTs predominate at lower-level facilities. Workload,…

Summary Background: Complete patient-status information is essential for monitoring outcomes and supporting case follow-up during outbreak response. During the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, declared on 15 May 2026, routine review of the…