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Emergency Response Resources

Emergencies come in all shapes and sizes and when you least expect them. Facility-specific readiness and response preparation, combined with linkages to larger response networks, can help keep emergencies from turning into full-blown crises.  

Questions?

Contact the Emergency Operations team at [email protected]. Contact our media team for news inquiries and interview requests.

Active Responses

Current Public Health Responses

APHL ICS Response

Our Incident Command System (ICS) has been stood up to ensure a unified public health response to the Ebola disease and Cyclospora outbreaks. APHL has also been supporting these efforts by:

  • Convening members to share resources and response information 
  • Providing technical assistance to public health laboratories and partners
  • Providing credible communications 
  • Determining response needs and advocating for resources, as needed

Lab Alerts

We send Lab Alert emails to our members when there are situational updates. Members can visit the APHL Lab Alerts page to find previous alerts, and read the latest below: 

Get in Touch

APHL Emergency Operations Center

Email [email protected] to share or get information related to Andes virus or Ebola virus.

Media Inquiries

For news inquiries and interview requests, contact our media team.

Cyclospora Response

An unprecedented number of cyclosporiasis cases have been reported across the US this season. Much of the increase has been driven by a large outbreak associated with iceberg lettuce, which CDC, FDA and several states are actively investigating. CDC provides weekly surveillance updates on Tuesdays and outbreak updates on Thursdays.

Testing Resources

Cyclospora Resources

Oocyst Repository

APHL is announcing an initiative with the University of Delaware and supported by FDA to create a national Cyclospora oocyst repository.

Help build a Cyclospora oocyst repository today!

Ebola Disease Outbreak in DRC and Uganda

CDC is responding to an outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda caused by the Bundibugyo virus (species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense). The risk of spread to the United States is considered low at this time.

Testing Resources

Many public health laboratories in the US can conduct testing for Ebola using tests deployed through the Laboratory Response Network and/or using commercially available assays.

Guide / Guidance
Aug '26

This document provides guidance for clinical laboratories on biosafety considerations when preparing for and when handling specimens from patients under investigation (PUI) for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) such as Ebola disease.

Public Health Preparedness and Response, Laboratory Operations and Systems, Specimen Handling
Tool / Work Aid
2026

Use this checklist to help identify potential gaps in institutional biosafety plans so you can prepare for and respond to suspected high consequence pathogens (HCP) and provide the necessary training to mitigate any enhanced exposure risks.

Public Health Preparedness and Response, Biosafety and Biosecurity, Specimen Handling
Guide / Guidance
2023

Use this guide to evaluate potential laboratory biological exposure events; find resources and information that may be needed for treatment, symptom monitoring and follow up.

Public Health Preparedness and Response, Biosafety and Biosecurity
Tool / Work Aid
2021

Use this interactive toolkit to evaluate packaging and shipping of Category A & B Substances and their associated documentation. Download and open in Adobe Acrobat to utilize the forms’ interactive elements and complete the forms digitally.

Public Health Preparedness and Response, Specimen Handling
Tool / Work Aid
Jun '26

This template is designed to assist laboratories in the development of their risk assessment for the testing of orthoebolaviruses. File will auto-download upon opening.

Public Health Preparedness and Response, Infectious Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Testing Methodology
Tool / Work Aid
Jun '26

This template is designed to assist laboratories in the development of their risk assessment for Ebola disease. File will auto-download upon opening.

Public Health Preparedness and Response, Infectious Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Testing Methodology
Active Response Resources

General Emergency Response Resources

The following resources can be used in the event of an emergency:

Laboratory Exposures

All-hazard Threats

Environmental Exposures 

Get Connected

Public Health Response Networks

During a public health response, well-prepared networks can make a world of difference. Networks can help centralize and standardize activities by providing: 

  • Crisis management practices 

  • Timely communications 

  • Sound science 

  • Data to inform response 

  • Public/private partnerships 

  • Shared expertise 

Below are networks or groups that can provide assistance, support and resources during an emergency: 

The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is state law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

What do public health laboratories need to know about EMAC and their responsibilities towards it? 

  • LRN for Biological Threats
    The Laboratory Response Network for Biological Threats (LRN-B) is organized as a tiered pyramid of sentinel clinical, reference and national laboratories. These laboratories are integrated into a single network for rapid detection and response to threats. In 2014, the reference tier was further categorized into reference, standard and advanced laboratories based on capabilities.
  • LRN for Chemical Threats
    The Laboratory Response Network for Chemical Threats (LRN-C) is the nation's laboratory emergency response system for chemical threats and other environmental public health emergencies. The LRN is a valuable resource for law enforcement and public health officials during public health emergencies.

Environmental Response Laboratory Network​​

The Environmental Protection Agency established the Environmental Response Laboratory Network in 2009 to address a need for a national network of laboratories with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear analytical capabilities to support the emergency response community in mitigation of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear threats.

Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan

The Water Laboratory Alliance is a nationwide network of laboratories designed to provide analytical support during contamination incidents that may exceed your laboratory capability and capacity.

APHL’s Role

Public Health Response Coordination

APHL supports our member laboratories as they respond to public health emergencies by providing leadership, advocacy and scientific guidance. During emergencies that threaten to overwhelm the capacity or capabilities of public health laboratories, APHL activates its Incident Command System to ensure a coordinated laboratory response.

APHL Emergency Operations Center

Email [email protected] to share or get information about an emergency.

Learn more about APHL’s past public health responses and our current capabilities:

Public Health Response and Coordination

Emergency Laboratory Contacts