ECDC hosts Africa CDC for mass gathering monitoring training
From 5 to 9 August 2024, ECDC welcomed colleagues from the Africa CDC Epidemic Intelligence Team for a week-long shadowing programme in Stockholm. This initiative was part of the ongoing collaboration under the agency’s Work Package 2, which focuses on surveillance, data management, and epidemic intelligence.
The training was designed to enhance capacity in mass gathering monitoring, an area that was identified as a priority during discussions between the Epidemic Intelligence teams of ECDC and Africa CDC. Mass gatherings, which bring large crowds together in a single location, present significant public health challenges due to the increased risk of infectious disease transmission. The potential for disease spread often extends beyond the event itself, as participants travel to and from various global locations. Consequently, effective monitoring of these events is crucial for ensuring public health safety. The training coincided with the final week of the Summer Olympics in Paris, giving participants an opportunity to observe epidemic intelligence mass gathering activities in practice.
Throughout the week, participants were introduced to ECDC’s epidemic intelligence activities, rapid risk assessments for mass gathering events, and the agency’s planning and preparation phases of monitoring. The Africa CDC team engaged in shadowing sessions, observing the daily routines of monitoring, logging, and reporting, and contributing to the drafting and reviewing of reports.
The successful completion of the training marks a significant step forward in the ongoing collaboration between ECDC and Africa CDC, contributing to stronger global public health surveillance and response capabilities.
