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Working groups

The GTFCC has 5 technical working groups, and a research work stream whose mission is to develop up-to-date guidance and tools for their respective cholera response pillars.

The working groups ensure the dissemination of their products through direct engagement with countries and partners, training sessions and events. These groups are chaired by representatives of partner organizations and co-led by WHO cholera programme experts.

Chair: Dr. Iza Ciglenecki, Médecins Sans Frontières
GTFCC Focal Point: Kate Alberti

The Case Management Working Group focuses on two core areas of work, improving access to treatment for patients with cholera and the clinical management of cholera patients.

Objectives & scope

  • Develop guidance and recommendations: Revision of existing and development of treatment protocols to improve clinical management of patients with cholera.
    Technical recommendations to increase access to quality cholera care, in affected communities.
  • Capacity building: Develop and update job aids, tools and training materials,  to support frontline health workers.
  • Data collection and analytics: Improve data collection and analysis to strengthen clinical management of patients with cholera and improve outbreak response.
  • Research and guidance: Conduct reviews and collaborate with research partners to update treatment recommendations
Children lying on green camp beds in a tent.

Chair: Dr. Flavio Finger, Epicentre
GTFCC Focal Point: Dr. Morgane Dominguez

The Epidemiology Working Group focuses on cholera surveillance to improve capacities at local, national, regional and global levels. It aims to foster the maximal use of surveillance data to better inform outbreak response as well as long-term prevention and control strategies.

Objectives & scope

  • Cholera surveillance in countries: Develop minimum recommendations on cholera surveillance in countries. Build capacities for their implementation (e.g., supporting tools, communication material, trainings).
  • Identification of Priority Areas for Multisectoral Interventions (PAMIs) to target National Cholera Plans: Develop methods for the identification of PAMIs to control and eliminate cholera. Build capacities for their implementation (supporting tools, communication material, trainings). Provide independent technical feedback on PAMI identification performed in countries.
  • Reporting of cholera to the regional and global levels: Foster harmonized cholera reporting to the regional and global levels by developing standard reporting requirements.
A doctor writing notes in an office.

Chair: Dr. Marie-Laure Quillici, Institut Pasteur
GTFCC Focal Point: Dr. Nadia Wauquier, World Health Organization

The Laboratory Working Group strives to improve cholera surveillance by supporting laboratory capacity building and enhancing coordination. Robust laboratory systems are essential for enhancing early detection, timely notification, and continuous monitoring of cholera outbreaks, thereby enabling prompt and targeted public health interventions.

Objectives & scope

  • Testing strategies: Develop and update strategies for cholera testing, integrating the use of rapid diagnostic tests, culture and PCR. Guide global discussions to promote development of fit for-purpose diagnostic tools.
  • Guidance development: Provide guidance for laboratory surveillance of cholera including recommended testing strategies. Refine methods for monitoring the quality of drinking water and provide recommendations for environmental surveillance of cholera (in coordination with the WASH working group). Advise on the use of genomics to further support cholera surveillance.
  • Capacity building: Conduct capacity assessments and training to improve all levels of laboratory capabilities in cholera-affected countries.
  • Training material and tool development: Create and disseminate comprehensive training materials for cholera diagnostics. Develop job aids and fact sheets and any other tools to support laboratory professionals with cholera diagnostics and other health care workers in charge of sample collection and testing with RDT.
A researcher wearing a mask reading analysis results in a laboratory.

Chair: Dr. Lucy Breakwell, US CDC
GTFCC Focal Point: Vincent Mendiboure

The OCV Working Group is tasked with guiding the global use of oral cholera vaccines, developing programmatic guidance, and supporting countries in planning and executing OCV campaigns.

Objectives & scope

  • Campaign support: Assisting countries in the planning and execution of preventive and reactive OCV campaigns.
  • Guideline development: Creating a framework for OCV supply allocation and campaign quality improvement.
  • Training workshops: Organizing regional and national workshops to improve the quality of OCV applications and campaigns.
  • Research support: Identifying research needs and supporting studies that inform OCV use and effectiveness.
  • Monitoring and evaluation: Developing tools to monitor and evaluate OCV campaigns, ensuring their effectiveness and impact.

Chair: Pierre-Yves Oger, UNICEF
GTFCC Focal Point: Jérôme Souquet

The WASH Working Group focuses on integrating water, sanitation, and hygiene efforts into cholera control strategies. The WWG priority is to reach universal access to basic WASH services in cholera hotspots/PAMIs by 2030.

Objectives and scope

  • Establish and update operational guidance: For WASH and IPC components in cholera settings (e.g., water quality monitoring, chlorination, WASH in health, and environmental surveillance.)
  • Technical exchange: Maintain a platform for innovation and knowledge sharing for partners on WASH and IPC interventions in cholera-affected settings.
  • Data repository and analytics: Set up a comprehensive WASH data repository to support evidence-based decision-making.
  • Assess and integrate current challenges: Climate change and gender equality into WASH response and prevention strategies.
  • Capacity development: Develop and disseminate accessible resources and tools to support WASH interventions in cholera settings.
A group of adults and children in a jungle looking at a WHO doctor taking out medical equipment from a box.

Chair: Dr. Tonia Thomas, British Red Cross/IFRC
GTFCC Focal Point: Dr. Emmanuel Baron

Research plays a crucial role in cholera control within the framework of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC), providing evidence-based insights to guide decision-making, improve interventions, and optimize resource use. The research workstream crosses all technical working groups and therefore does not have a separate working group, but engages across the GTFCC community.

Objectives & scope

  • Collaboration at global level: Promoting active research and data sharing between countries to strengthen the cholera research ecosystem.
  • Ensuring countries access and use the best available research evidence: Developing National Cholera Control Plans (NCPs).
  • Supporting countries in identifying and articulating their specific research needs: Enabling environment for countries to integrate research studies into their operational plans. Research results, particularly in epidemiology, help identify transmission areas and patterns. These insights improve the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns, WASH interventions, and case management strategies.
  • Tools development: Research also aids in developing and adapting innovative tools, such as rapid diagnostic tests and oral cholera vaccines, to local contexts.
3 lab technicians wearing prtotective clothing looking at a laboratory manual.