The International Health Regulations Strengthening Project is a UK Aid funded technical assistance project contributing to international efforts to improve global health security through increased compliance with the WHO International Health Regulations (2005).
Taking a One Health and an all hazards approach, the IHR Project works in partnership with National Public Health Institutes, ministries of health and regional organisations to support public health system strengthening to reduce the impact of public health emergencies and improve national, regional and ultimately global health security.
This dedicated knowledge hub shares news and learning from the project working with public health partners to build strong national public health systems better equipped to prevent, prepare for, detect, and respond to a wide range of global health threats.
March 30, 2026
In this blog, Hiwot Amare Hailu, UKHSA IHR-SP's Technical Laboratory Advisor in Ethiopia, reflects on the end of Ethiopia's Marburg virus outbreak and the years of preparedness work that made an effective response possible. Ethiopia declared the outbreak officially over in January 2026, having contained it within three months and with just 14 confirmed cases - a remarkable achievement built on sustained investment in laboratory capacity, coordination mechanisms and trained personnel. Years of partnership between EPHI and IHR-SP, including a Marburg simulation exercise just months before the real outbreak, meant that when the moment came, Ethiopia's public health system was ready. For Hiwot and colleagues working in global health security, it is a powerful reminder that the foundations for effective outbreak response must be built long before they are needed.
Nigeria’s State Epidemiologists Network has enabled stronger capacity in data analysis, geospatial tools, and routine reporting, with at least 15 states now producing monthly epidemiological bulletins for the first time.
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Many of the IHR-SP's activities have led to co-authored publications across different public health research disciplines. A selection of our most recent publications can be found here.
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