Preparing for the worst: opportunities to prevent trans-boundary disease transmission in Uganda: a case study

On August 1^st, 2018, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared its tenth Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in history, affecting North Kivu and Ituri provinces. The outbreak response was complicated due to insecurity and armed conflict in the region, and over the next 19 months, thousands of cases and deaths would occur, making this the world´s second-largest outbreak of EVD to date. On 4 August 2018, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) activated the national coordination mechanisms for public health emergencies. The National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) immediately mobilized and embarked on a preparedness assessment and risk mapping to inform the country´s EVD response plan. This case study describes the events that transpired from declaration, activation of the coordination mechanisms, preparedness and response to EVD. The case study is meant to teach rapid responders, Incident Management Team members and the National and District Task Forces on how to prepare and respond to such outbreaks.