Emory’s Special Pathogens Team Partners with the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Combat Emerging Threats
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The Serious Communicable Diseases Program (SCDP) at Emory University plays a critical role in global health security. As one of the three partner institutions leading the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), Emory University is a national leader in biocontainment, with expertise in high-consequence infectious diseases. Its biocontainment unit, the Serious Communicable Diseases Unit (SCDU), maintains continuous readiness and is able to activate within an hour to provide clinical care for patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with a high-consequence infectious disease. These efforts reinforce Emory’s dedication to improving health outcomes and advancing public health knowledge.
High-Level Collaboration and Strategic Planning
From November 3-7, 2024, a team from Emory’s SCDP traveled to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to collaborate with the Ministry of Health in strengthening infectious disease preparedness. During meetings with the DRC’s Ministry of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in-country director, the Director-General of the National Public Health Institute, and the World Bank, the SCDP team sought to understand the unique challenges and needs of the Ministry of Health.
The team conducted site visits to key healthcare and research facilities, including Renaissance University Hospital Center, the Mpox Emergency Operations Center, Kinshasa University Hospital, the National Institute for Biomedical Research, and an Mpox clinical treatment center.
Laying the Groundwork for Partnership
The SCDP team laid the groundwork for a long-term partnership with the Ministry of Health in the DRC, offering advice and feedback on:
- Designing a New Biocontainment Unit: Supporting architectural, engineering, and logistical planning
- Training & Education: Preparing clinical teams to work in the unit
- Sustainability Planning: Ensuring long-term viability of the biocontainment unit
- Public Health Strategy: Strengthen education and outreach on surveillance, community healthcare worker support, and potential advanced technologies to assist in emerging infectious disease mitigation
Key Takeaways
By leveraging Emory’s expertise and aligning with the DRC’s public health priorities, this partnership lays the foundation for a sustainable and effective infectious disease response. Strengthening local capacity will:
- Improve outbreak detection and response times
- Enhance clinical care for high-risk patients
- Empower local communities to take ownership of healthcare initiatives
- Foster long-term trust and resilience in the DRC’s health system
Through strategic collaboration, Emory and the DRC are working toward a shared goal: a safer, more prepared global health landscape.
Enhancing U.S. Health Security
Strengthening global partnerships in infectious disease preparedness directly benefits U.S. national health security by enhancing early detection and response capabilities for emerging threats. By collaborating with the DRC—a region with experience managing high-consequence pathogens—Emory’s team will gain insights into outbreak response in complex settings. These lessons inform best practices for domestic preparedness, ensuring that U.S. healthcare systems remain vigilant and ready to respond to potential threats before they reach American soil.
The original story from the Emory University website has been edited for this post.
About the Author
Gavin H. Harris, MD
Dr. Gavin Harris is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Emory University, holding appointments in both critical care medicine and infectious diseases. His profession focus lies in disaster preparedness and biosecurity. He is currently the Director of Education and Outreach for the Emory University Serious Communicable Diseases Program, a Critical Care Co-Liaison for Emory’s biocontainment unit known as the Serious Communicable Diseases Unit, and the Co-Chair of the Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Critical Care Guidance Task Force.