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The IOA Network hosts regular IOA Network Sessions that explore different themes within outbreak analysis and response, and the role IOA plays or could play in strengthening public health emergency response. In addition, IOA presentations, webinars and workshops take place at a range of events.

The IOA Network hosts regular IOA Network Sessions that explore different themes within outbreak analysis and response

Events

Understanding sex and gender differences during outbreaks is critical to delivering an effective response. Although recommendations and minimum requirements exist, the incorporation of sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis into outbreak analytics and response for informed decision-making remains infrequent. We will present a scoping review conducted to provide an overview of the extent of sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis in outbreak response within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)Chair: Pascale Lissouba (Epicentre)

Latest Events

SAGER for IOA including DRC gender case study

This IOA Network session will explore how some key global health organisations coordinate recruitment, deployment, and remote support for skilled personnel in outbreaks and public health emergenciesChair: Ruby Siddiqui (UNICEF)

Deployment and Remote Support Strategies for IOA

In December 2024, the third pilot orientation on the Integrated Outbreak Analytics (IOA) toolkit was held in Port-Sudan, Sudan. Over a period of 4 days, two facilitators from the IOA toolkit task team introduced the toolkit to participants through a range of presentations and numerous small-group exercises using the tools and procedures presented in the toolkit. To facilitate understanding and ownership, participants worked with real data from their daily work. In a country heavily affected by multiple epidemics in a conflict context, participants chose to work on current or recent measles and cholera epidemics.&nbsp;Participants came from the Sudanese Ministry of Health, UN agencies, the Sudanese Red Crescent, as well as numerous NGOs, with a predominance of participants with a background in epidemiology and public health. The participation of several directors and heads of departments from the Ministry of Health throughout the orientation was a clear signal of the interest and commitment of health authorities to the potential benefits of IOA for Sudan.&nbsp;At the end of the orientation, an early discussion took place about the roadmap for the implementation of a national IOA cell.&nbsp;With the support of UNICEF and WHO, and previous work done in other countries, the authorities quickly began establishing a working group to define the Terms of Reference of a future IOA cell, with guidance and follow-up from the IOA toolkit task team.&nbsp;In addition, evaluations from participants and facilitators will be used to improve the material: the toolkit itself and all the accompanying orientation content and activities.&nbsp;Thanks to all the participants for their involvement and amazing energy, and thanks to the UNICEF country office for their hard work in organizing this orientation.&nbsp;The IOA Toolkit pilot has now ended in all three pilot sites, DRC, Somalia and Sudan. The IOA Toolkit Task Team is incorporating all evaluations and feedback into the IOA Toolkit and moving to the next phase, graphic design.

IOA Toolkit Pilot in Sudan

This IOA Network session explores the current regional coordination of the mpox response in DRC and key challenges as well as priorities for the future.The current multi-country outbreak of mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by Africa CDC and WHO declared it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) on 14th August 2024. The continued and rapid spread of mpox in DRC, including the emergence and spread of a new clade (1b) to typically non-endemic neighbouring countries led to the PHEIC declaration and since then 19 countries across the continent have reported confirmed cases in 2024. As part of the response, many are applying Integrated Outbreak Analytics to improve understanding of trends and targeting of specific activities.

Integrated Outbreak Analytics (IOA) and mpox in DRC

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Understanding sex and gender differences during outbreaks is critical to delivering an effective response. Although recommendations and minimum requirements exist, the incorporation of sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis into outbreak analytics and response for informed decision-making remains infrequent. We will present a scoping review conducted to provide an overview of the extent of sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis in outbreak response within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)Chair: Pascale Lissouba (Epicentre)

This IOA Network session will explore how some key global health organisations coordinate recruitment, deployment, and remote support for skilled personnel in outbreaks and public health emergenciesChair: Ruby Siddiqui (UNICEF)

In December 2024, the third pilot orientation on the Integrated Outbreak Analytics (IOA) toolkit was held in Port-Sudan, Sudan. Over a period of 4 days, two facilitators from the IOA toolkit task team introduced the toolkit to participants through a range of presentations and numerous small-group exercises using the tools and procedures presented in the toolkit. To facilitate understanding and ownership, participants worked with real data from their daily work. In a country heavily affected by multiple epidemics in a conflict context, participants chose to work on current or recent measles and cholera epidemics.&nbsp;Participants came from the Sudanese Ministry of Health, UN agencies, the Sudanese Red Crescent, as well as numerous NGOs, with a predominance of participants with a background in epidemiology and public health. The participation of several directors and heads of departments from the Ministry of Health throughout the orientation was a clear signal of the interest and commitment of health authorities to the potential benefits of IOA for Sudan.&nbsp;At the end of the orientation, an early discussion took place about the roadmap for the implementation of a national IOA cell.&nbsp;With the support of UNICEF and WHO, and previous work done in other countries, the authorities quickly began establishing a working group to define the Terms of Reference of a future IOA cell, with guidance and follow-up from the IOA toolkit task team.&nbsp;In addition, evaluations from participants and facilitators will be used to improve the material: the toolkit itself and all the accompanying orientation content and activities.&nbsp;Thanks to all the participants for their involvement and amazing energy, and thanks to the UNICEF country office for their hard work in organizing this orientation.&nbsp;The IOA Toolkit pilot has now ended in all three pilot sites, DRC, Somalia and Sudan. The IOA Toolkit Task Team is incorporating all evaluations and feedback into the IOA Toolkit and moving to the next phase, graphic design.

This IOA Network session explores the current regional coordination of the mpox response in DRC and key challenges as well as priorities for the future.The current multi-country outbreak of mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by Africa CDC and WHO declared it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) on 14th August 2024. The continued and rapid spread of mpox in DRC, including the emergence and spread of a new clade (1b) to typically non-endemic neighbouring countries led to the PHEIC declaration and since then 19 countries across the continent have reported confirmed cases in 2024. As part of the response, many are applying Integrated Outbreak Analytics to improve understanding of trends and targeting of specific activities.

A workshop took place in Dakar Senegal at the end of November. The aims were twofold:To share country experiences in informing efficient outbreak response mechanism through holistic analytics (such as IOA), and&nbsp;To prepare for the handover of IOA in WHO leadership from WHO headquarters to WHO African regional office.Eleven countries were invited to participate, 10 of which were able to attend. Partners such as Africa CDC, IFRC, UNICEF, and Epicentre were also present as well as WHO teams from headquarters and the Regional office for Africa.Countries with previous experience of IOA shared their experiences with the group, while countries without prior IOA experience shared their existing outbreak response mechanisms and reflected on how they may be able to introduce IOA in their response.Furthermore, IOA core team representative (UNICEF, IFRC, Epicentre and WHO) presented the IOA approach and process included in the IOA toolkit currently being piloted and will be published in March 2025.