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U.S. Africa Command and Zambia CIV-MIL Partnership Brings Mobile Laboratories to Southern Africa: A Game Changer for Infectious Disease Outbreak Response

Three state-of-the-art mobile biological threat detection laboratories arrived in Zambia at the end of September and are poised to modernize infectious disease outbreak response across nine southern African nations. This vital initiative, a collaborative effort between Zambia’s National Public Health Institute under the Ministry of Health, U.S. Africa Command’s Office of the Command Surgeon, and the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, is set to dramatically shorten response times and improve the overall capacity to combat and contain potentially devastating outbreaks.

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Photo by: U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs 

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U.S. Africa Command and Zambia CIV-MIL Partnership Brings Mobile Laboratories to Southern Africa: A Game Changer for Infectious Disease Outbreak Response

Three state-of-the-art mobile biological threat detection laboratories arrived in Zambia at the end of September and are poised to modernize infectious disease outbreak response across nine southern African nations. This vital initiative, a collaborative effort between Zambia’s National Public Health Institute under the Ministry of Health, U.S. Africa Command’s Office of the Command Surgeon, and the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, is set to dramatically shorten response times and improve the overall capacity to combat and contain potentially devastating outbreaks.

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Photo by: U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs 

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U.S. Africa Command and Zambia CIV-MIL Partnership Brings Mobile Laboratories to Southern Africa: A Game Changer for Infectious Disease Outbreak Response

Three state-of-the-art mobile biological threat detection laboratories arrived in Zambia at the end of September and are poised to modernize infectious disease outbreak response across nine southern African nations. This vital initiative, a collaborative effort between Zambia’s National Public Health Institute under the Ministry of Health, U.S. Africa Command’s Office of the Command Surgeon, and the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, is set to dramatically shorten response times and improve the overall capacity to combat and contain potentially devastating outbreaks.

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Photo by: U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs 

In a significant boost to regional health security, three state-of-the-art mobile biological threat detection laboratories are arriving in Zambia and poised to modernize infectious disease outbreak response across nine southern African nations—Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania.  

This vital initiative, a collaborative effort between Zambia’s National Public Health Institute under the Ministry of Health, U.S. Africa Command’s Office of the Command Surgeon, and the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, is set to dramatically shorten response times and improve the overall capacity to combat potentially devastating outbreaks including, but not limited to viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Lassa and Lujo viruses as well as deadly zoonotic infections such as Anthrax, Brucellosis and Avian influenza.  The delivery represents a strategic approach to global health security that emphasizes burden sharing and equipping partner nations to quickly and effectively respond to regional health crises with minimal U.S. involvement. 

At the end of August, the U.S. and Zambian delegations visited Buchen, Germany, to inspect and receive the mobile labs developed by DST Innovation and Protection. Afterward, the group traveled to the Friedrich-Löffler Institute (FLI) in Greifswald, Germany, a leading institution in animal disease prevention, diagnosis, and control, to explore future collaboration opportunities. Subsequently, the labs were shipped to Zambia and are expected to arrive by the end of September. 

"This initiative is about building capacity and is a testament to the importance of multinational partnerships, in this case between the United States, Zambia and Germany. The work we’ve done over the past several years is a game changer," said Col. Michael Cohen, AFRICOM’s Command Surgeon. "By investing in the health security of our partners, we not only help them protect their populations and economies, but we also help stop outbreaks before they hit borders or travel to the United States.” 

"The ability to rapidly identify and confirm infectious diseases in a safe manner is paramount in preventing widespread outbreaks," explained Permanent Secretary Dr Kennedy Lishimpi, of the Zambian Ministry of Health. "Previously, we were often playing catch-up, reacting to an outbreak instead of proactively managing it. These advanced mobile labs represent a critical shift in our strategy."  

The Director General of Zambia’s National Public Health Institute, Professor Roma Chilengi, actively engaged in the exchange and highlighted the country’s broad commitment to enhancing public health resilience and ensuring the well-being of its citizens. 

The partnership further contributes to the safety of U.S. Forces operating and training in Africa, ensuring they remain healthy. At least one of the labs will also be used during multi-nation training exercises, providing for the continued readiness of U.S. and African forces and medical personnel. 

Proven and durable, the mobile labs have been extensively used by the European Union since 2014’s West Africa Ebola virus outbreak. These self-contained labs are designed for rapid deployment in austere environments, can be fully operational within two hours, are equipped with 20,000 critical items for identifying, treating, and reporting infectious diseases, and are designed for self-sufficiency for up to three weeks. Importantly, this capability significantly reduces the time required to obtain critical diagnostic results – with a turnaround time of just one to two days. 

For years, African countries have grappled with the challenges of rapidly identifying and containing infectious diseases. Diagnosis often involves lengthy journeys to centralized labs and long waits for results, sometimes stretching 10 to 12 days. Delays proved detrimental during outbreaks like the 2014 Ebola virus crisis in Liberia, hindering initial containment measures and contributing to the spread of the virus, explained Maj. John Saindon, Force Health Security for the Office of the Command Surgeon, who deployed to the country at the time. The United States, he said, ultimately committed nearly 3,500 military personnel to counter the outbreak.

This multinational initiative not only focuses on human health, but also extends to animals and agriculture, taking on a One Health approach to outbreak prevention and mitigation. Animal outbreaks often pose a dual threat: spreading to humans and triggering crisis.  

Zambia, like many nations in the region, is concerned about zoonotic diseases that can spread from animals to humans. For example, the country has experienced outbreaks of anthrax in hippos, a situation that poses a significant threat to individuals who may risk eating infectious hippo meat due to food insecurity, thus contracting anthrax. Also, bordering countries to Zambia have experienced recent Ebola virus outbreaks, most recently Uganda (2024) and Democratic Republic of Congo (2025). 

The Command Surgeon’s efforts directly support AFRICOM's Strategy, Engagement and Program Directorate and AFRICOM’s broader Campaign Plan, specifically addressing national security objectives and crisis response. The two directorates, along with the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, worked with the nation on the collaborative program.  

“We are pleased to partner with the Zambia National Public Health Institute on this project towards increasing Zambia’s capacity to tackle critical threats to global health security,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Yan, Defense Attaché for the U.S. Embassy in Zambia. “The delivery of these mobile infectious disease testing laboratories is a testament to the U.S. government’s continued support to the Zambian government in the health space. USAFRICOM’s work directly supports comprehensive efforts for health security alongside our inter-agency partners, like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, who have built a robust cooperative relationship with ZNPHI.”  

In addition to AFRICOM’s delivery of the mobile biological threat detection laboratories to southern Africa, the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa’s (SETAF-AF) Surgeon Cell and Angolan Military Health Division medics also conducted a military-to-military exchange at Hospital Military Principal, in Luanda, Angola, Sept. 22-25. The medical professionals shared best practices for infection control, epidemiology and trauma surgery techniques, focused on building U.S. and Angolan forces’ readiness and enabling Angola to lead regional health security initiatives. Ultimately, the engagement prepares SETAF-AF’s medical forces to respond to real-world crises, align with AFRICOM priorities and increase the unit’s knowledge about the U.S. Embassy’s Disaster Response Initiative. 

AFRICOM is one of seven U.S. geographic combatant commands, responsible for military engagement across 53 African countries. Working with partners and allies, the command counters malign actors and transnational threats, responds to crises, strengthens African security forces, and supports U.S. government efforts in Africa to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.