Unseen Threats: Tanzania Advances Disease Detection | Global Health Protection | CDC
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:18
Unseen Threats: Tanzania Advances Disease Detection | Global Health Protection | CDC
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Unseen Threats: Tanzania Advances Disease Detection
Apr. 1, 2026
At a glance
Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) graduates in Tanzania used advanced laboratory technology to better detect pathogens in patients with severe respiratory illness.
Study results helped develop a national laboratory disease guideline, strengthening the country's early disease detection and global health security.
The Challenge
CDC Tanzania FETP graduates working in a laboratory testing acute respiratory samples.
Globally, respiratory diseases cause 10 million deaths every year. In
Tanzania
, millions suffer from respiratory infections, but routine laboratory investigation for causes of acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) is very limited. Since 2008, Tanzania has conducted surveillance for respiratory viruses like influenza which was expanded to include SARS-COV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) after the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these efforts, the causes of many respiratory illnesses in Tanzania remain unknown— especially for young children and immunocompromised people.
To better understand the driving factors behind these unexplained illnesses, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) with support from U.S. CDC Tanzania, conducted a project analyzing samples that had previously tested negative for influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
Since diagnostic tools are limited in Tanzania, clinicians often rely on the assumption that respiratory symptoms are related to diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, or COVID-19. This lack of lab capacity has created a blind spot in the country's ability to fight against respiratory illnesses.
CDC's Efforts
The project was led by Peter Torokaa, a Laboratory Epidemiologist, MoH Mainland Tanzania and a graduate of CDC’s Division of Global Health Protection’s (DGHP)
Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP)
. As part of Tanzania’s growing network of disease detectives, Torokaa strengthened his epidemiological and laboratory skills through classroom-based training, fieldwork, and mentorship provided through FETP.
Torokaa, along with other FETP graduates, used 172 samples taken from ill patients who had already tested negative for influenza or SARS-CoV- 2. They used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze the 172 archived samples. NGS examines the genetic material of a virus and can detect the presence of many different microorganisms simultaneously, including rare or newly emerging pathogens. During this project, NGS made it possible to identify microorganisms that routine tests might miss— giving laboratorians in Tanzania the ability to detect a wider mix of organisms.
This project is the first of its kind implemented in Tanzania—representing an advancement in national respiratory disease detection capacity. Enhancing laboratory and analytical capacity will help Tanzania’s public health systems to better detect, respond to, and contain respiratory diseases.
The findings of this project offer a fresh perspective by identifying potential new threats that may have gone unnoticed by routine methods, thanks to the application of advanced technologies.
"Because of this project, we can refine our laboratory strategies to not only target the known diseases like influenza and COVID-19, but also other pathogens that may be contributing to severe acute respiratory illness,” said Torokaa. “This project helps us improve public health detection across Tanzania."
Impact
Peter Torokaa (2nd left), a FETP advanced graduate, collaborates with laboratory staff from the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), to test acute respiratory infection samples.
In parallel with these efforts, the Tanzanian government developed an updated national laboratory guideline which expanded respiratory testing beyond influenza and COVID-19, ensuring a more complete understanding of potential causes of respiratory disease outbreaks in Tanzania. This guideline continues to build upon existing infrastructure, enhance laboratory capacity, and promote multisectoral collaboration to improve the country's disease surveillance efforts.
This expanded national guideline marks a pivotal step in Tanzania's journey toward a comprehensive early detection public health system. This helps protect over 140,000 Americans who visit Tanzania annually— reducing the spread of threats to U.S. communities.
The investigation of identifying unknown causes of respiratory illnesses is an important step toward a future where health systems are better able to rapidly detect and confirm the causes of outbreaks.
As we expand our understanding of respiratory infections beyond just influenza and COVID-19, we can better equip our healthcare systems- surveillance and laboratories to detect and respond effectively.
- Dr. Wangeci Gatei, Director of the Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) at CDC Tanzania.
Broader Implications
After sharing the results with the MoH, CDC Tanzania is advocating for continued investment to strengthen laboratory testing infrastructure and reinforce laboratory-based disease surveillance systems that enable early detection of respiratory disease outbreaks. In addition, the country aims to expand the capacity of laboratorians to analyze, interpret, and make informed decisions from data generated using advanced technology. Together, these investments will help detect respiratory outbreaks earlier and prevent them more effectively, protecting vulnerable populations and children in Tanzania.
CDC experts will continue to support laboratory teams in Tanzania by providing guidance, expertise, and technical assistance to build testing capacity for laboratory staff, surveillance teams, and health systems. These efforts will allow Tanzania to strengthen their ability to stop outbreaks in their tracks— preventing health threats from crossing American borders.
Learn more about CDC/DGHP's ongoing work to strengthen global health systems through its
global health security efforts.
On This Page
The Challenge
CDC's Efforts
Impact
Broader Implications
Apr. 1, 2026
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Skip directly to site content
Skip directly to search
An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Unseen Threats: Tanzania Advances Disease Detection
Apr. 1, 2026
At a glance
Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) graduates in Tanzania used advanced laboratory technology to better detect pathogens in patients with severe respiratory illness.
Study results helped develop a national laboratory disease guideline, strengthening the country's early disease detection and global health security.
The Challenge
CDC Tanzania FETP graduates working in a laboratory testing acute respiratory samples.
Globally, respiratory diseases cause 10 million deaths every year. In
Tanzania
, millions suffer from respiratory infections, but routine laboratory investigation for causes of acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) is very limited. Since 2008, Tanzania has conducted surveillance for respiratory viruses like influenza which was expanded to include SARS-COV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) after the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these efforts, the causes of many respiratory illnesses in Tanzania remain unknown— especially for young children and immunocompromised people.
To better understand the driving factors behind these unexplained illnesses, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) with support from U.S. CDC Tanzania, conducted a project analyzing samples that had previously tested negative for influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
Since diagnostic tools are limited in Tanzania, clinicians often rely on the assumption that respiratory symptoms are related to diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, or COVID-19. This lack of lab capacity has created a blind spot in the country's ability to fight against respiratory illnesses.
CDC's Efforts
The project was led by Peter Torokaa, a Laboratory Epidemiologist, MoH Mainland Tanzania and a graduate of CDC’s Division of Global Health Protection’s (DGHP)
Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP)
. As part of Tanzania’s growing network of disease detectives, Torokaa strengthened his epidemiological and laboratory skills through classroom-based training, fieldwork, and mentorship provided through FETP.
Torokaa, along with other FETP graduates, used 172 samples taken from ill patients who had already tested negative for influenza or SARS-CoV- 2. They used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze the 172 archived samples. NGS examines the genetic material of a virus and can detect the presence of many different microorganisms simultaneously, including rare or newly emerging pathogens. During this project, NGS made it possible to identify microorganisms that routine tests might miss— giving laboratorians in Tanzania the ability to detect a wider mix of organisms.
This project is the first of its kind implemented in Tanzania—representing an advancement in national respiratory disease detection capacity. Enhancing laboratory and analytical capacity will help Tanzania’s public health systems to better detect, respond to, and contain respiratory diseases.
The findings of this project offer a fresh perspective by identifying potential new threats that may have gone unnoticed by routine methods, thanks to the application of advanced technologies.
"Because of this project, we can refine our laboratory strategies to not only target the known diseases like influenza and COVID-19, but also other pathogens that may be contributing to severe acute respiratory illness,” said Torokaa. “This project helps us improve public health detection across Tanzania."
Impact
Peter Torokaa (2nd left), a FETP advanced graduate, collaborates with laboratory staff from the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), to test acute respiratory infection samples.
In parallel with these efforts, the Tanzanian government developed an updated national laboratory guideline which expanded respiratory testing beyond influenza and COVID-19, ensuring a more complete understanding of potential causes of respiratory disease outbreaks in Tanzania. This guideline continues to build upon existing infrastructure, enhance laboratory capacity, and promote multisectoral collaboration to improve the country's disease surveillance efforts.
This expanded national guideline marks a pivotal step in Tanzania's journey toward a comprehensive early detection public health system. This helps protect over 140,000 Americans who visit Tanzania annually— reducing the spread of threats to U.S. communities.
The investigation of identifying unknown causes of respiratory illnesses is an important step toward a future where health systems are better able to rapidly detect and confirm the causes of outbreaks.
As we expand our understanding of respiratory infections beyond just influenza and COVID-19, we can better equip our healthcare systems- surveillance and laboratories to detect and respond effectively.
- Dr. Wangeci Gatei, Director of the Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) at CDC Tanzania.
Broader Implications
After sharing the results with the MoH, CDC Tanzania is advocating for continued investment to strengthen laboratory testing infrastructure and reinforce laboratory-based disease surveillance systems that enable early detection of respiratory disease outbreaks. In addition, the country aims to expand the capacity of laboratorians to analyze, interpret, and make informed decisions from data generated using advanced technology. Together, these investments will help detect respiratory outbreaks earlier and prevent them more effectively, protecting vulnerable populations and children in Tanzania.
CDC experts will continue to support laboratory teams in Tanzania by providing guidance, expertise, and technical assistance to build testing capacity for laboratory staff, surveillance teams, and health systems. These efforts will allow Tanzania to strengthen their ability to stop outbreaks in their tracks— preventing health threats from crossing American borders.
Learn more about CDC/DGHP's ongoing work to strengthen global health systems through its
global health security efforts.
On This Page
The Challenge
CDC's Efforts
Impact
Broader Implications
Apr. 1, 2026
Sources
Share
Syndicate
Content Source:
Global Health Center
Global Health Protection
CDC's Division of Global Health Protection works on the frontlines of global health security, in over 40 countries, to create a safer America and a safer world.
View All
What We Do
Campaigns and Awareness Days
Stories of Impact
Resources
Sign up for Email Updates