CDC Bolsters Global Health Security with Multi-Million Dollar Cooperative Agreements for Infectious Disease Surveillance

On August 7, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, announced a significant investment in global health security through the award of five single-source cooperative agreements totaling $4.6 million for Federal Fiscal Year 2026. These awards are directed at bolstering influenza and other priority pathogen surveillance networks in key international locations. The funding targets five distinct institutions: the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research in Bangladesh; the National Institute of Public Health in Cambodia; the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar; the National Health Laboratory Service in South Africa; and the L.Sakvarelidze National Center for Disease Control and Public Health in Georgia. This strategic allocation of resources underscores a sustained commitment to detecting and responding to infectious disease threats worldwide.

Details of the Strategic Awards

The funding, effective for a five-year period from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031, will provide critical financial support to these national public health entities. Specifically, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research in Bangladesh, the National Institute of Public Health in Cambodia, and the National Health Laboratory Service in South Africa will each receive approximately $1,000,000 in FFY 2026. The Institut Pasteur de Madagascar and the L.Sakvarelidze National Center for Disease Control and Public Health in Georgia will each be granted approximately $800,000 for the same fiscal year. While these initial amounts are specified for FFY 2026, the awards are structured to allow for continuation funding in years two through five, subject to availability. The primary purpose of these agreements is multifaceted: to improve or maintain existing capacity for seasonal influenza surveillance, and crucially, to enhance capabilities for detecting and responding to pandemic and novel influenza strains, including highly pathogenic avian influenza. Beyond influenza, the initiative aims to strengthen the ability to identify outbreaks of severe respiratory illness syndrome and other emerging infectious disease threats through both epidemiologic and virologic detection methods.

Rationale for Single-Source Funding and Global Impact

The CDC's decision to issue these as single-source awards highlights the unique and critical role each recipient plays within its respective nation's public health infrastructure. The Federal Register notice explicitly states that these entities are