April 2026
The Brighton Collaboration is building a global network of experts ready to handle vaccine safety. Experts say it helps prevent mistakes and keeps public trust strong across the board.
In Madagascar, the plague is a real danger, accounting for 75% of the world's cases. Using the One Health approach, Madagascar's Ministry of Health and The Task Force, with support from the Global Fund, are working together to strengthen community-led early warning systems to improve public health, and limit the spread of plaque.

Bridging the Gap: How "Post-Mortem Surveillance" is Redefining Disease Detection in Nigeria

A field epidemiologist trained through Nigeria's Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), has pioneered a Post-Mortem Surveillance approach that recently identifies Lassa fever and dengue outbreaks in areas previously classified as "low risk." His team recovered critical health information that would otherwise have been "lost to the earth."

Epidemiology of Compassion: FACE Pioneers a New Approach

Epidemiology is now being applied to reduce human suffering in new ways. The Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics is leading an effort to apply scientific rigor to compassion.

Ethiopia Takes a Bold Step: Launching a Unified Strategy for Double-Fortified Salt to Prevent Neural Tube Defects

Ethiopia has made a significant commitment towards eliminating neural tube defects by launching a unified strategy to introduce Double-Fortified Salt, fortified with both iodine and folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. Learn how the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance network will play a pivotal role in measuring the impact of this strategy and related policy changes.

Extending the use of life: Hospital Beds Delivered to Tamale Teaching Hospital

From surplus to service,  hundreds of unused hospital beds were transformed into impact reaching Tamale Teaching Hospital in Ghana through MedSurplus Alliance's collaborative network.

In The News

The Task Force’s Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases was featured in the New York Times February 3, ‘Biblical Diseases’ Could Resurge in Africa, Health Officials Fear.

Voices for Vaccine Director Karen Ernst wrote an Op-Ed that appeared in MSNOW on March 2, Why you shouldn’t lecture parents whose unvaccinated kids suffered or died with measles.

In a recent March 17 episode of On the Map with Global Health, a podcast from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Task Force President and CEO Dr. Patrick O’Carroll joined host Monzur Patwary to discuss the important role of Task Force’s coalition-based approach.

Dr. Joe Bresee provided guidance on COVID-19 and other respiratory threats in a March 4 article from Parade, Doctors Are Seeing a Bizarre New COVID Symptom Right Now


The World Health Organization announced that Libya eliminated trachoma as a public health problem on Feb. 18, a landmark victory for public health in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO validates elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Libya.

On Feb. 18, Georgia State University recognized Dr. Nancy Knight, Chief Science and Programs Officer, for speaking with the School of Public Health’s Board of Advisors about how The Task Force is working to eliminate diseases and protect populations, SPH Board of Advisors Meeting at The Task Force for Global Health Highlights Global Impact and Partnerships

The Polio Surge team’s Director was featured in an online magazine on February 26 for his inspiring global health journey, Life & Work with Dr. Victor Eboh of Decatur

Journal Notes: 

  • The Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE) is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Elimination Champions Awards, recognizing individuals driving real progress toward hepatitis elimination. Nominations can be made until May 8, 2026.
  • In a new Lancet commentary co-authored by CGHE, the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), and the Hepatitis Elimination Lab (Plan-B), frontline voices reveal how recent global health funding cuts are already disrupting hepatitis B and C services worldwide.
  • TEPHINET and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are now accepting nominations for the 2026 CDC Director’s Award for Excellence in Epidemiology and Public Health Response. This prestigious award honors a Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) or Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) that has demonstrated exceptional leadership in responding to public health threats, overcoming challenges, and applying epidemiologic principles to make a lasting impact. The award will be presented during the FETP International Night Awards Ceremony on April 23, 2026.
  • Support the Next Generation of Disease Detectives! Registration is officially open for the 2026 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Annual Conference. Virtual attendance is free! Register today to get access to all sessions. 
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