Focal Points for Disease Notification Training 2026

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)

Animal disease notification training, including the use of World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS),

For WOAH animal disease notification Focal Points of Asia and the Pacific Region

Background

WOAH is the mandated international organisation collecting data on, and observing and analysing animal diseases throughout the world. WOAH ensures the prompt dissemination of information on potentially devastating outbreaks and facilitates decision-making around international trade of animals and animal products by collecting, verifying and publishing official animal health information, following a standardised process, thus providing high quality, reliable data. To support countries in maintaining global transparency and in reporting matters of animal and public health, WOAH launched the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) – now the leading, most technologically advanced reference platform for reporting of animal diseases and veterinary capacities – and phase 1 development is now complete. The WAHIS platform has now been completely optimised, and an additional reporting module on Annual Report (Animal Population data) has been launched. Furthermore, user-friendliness aspects have been incorporated, and performance of the system has been dramatically improved.

The WOAH animal disease notification training, including the use of WAHIS will be conducted face-to-face in Putrajaya, Malaysia by trainers from the World Animal Health Information and Analysis department (WAHIAD), supported and assisted by WOAH Regional and Subregional officers who oversee animal disease reporting. The main training will run from 3-5 February 2026 (3 full days each).

Participants from selected non-WOAH members in the Pacific Islands countries and territories are invited to participate in the main training (3–5 February, Day 1-3), with an additional half-day introductory session to be held on the afternoon of 2 February 2026.

Prior to the in-person training, an online pre-training session was held in on 22 January 2026.

Objectives

The aims of the training are:

Main training session

1. train the national WOAH focal points for animal disease notification and representatives from non-WOAH Members in the Pacific Islands countries and territories to be important stewards in their respective countries and territories with respect to animal disease reporting
2. explain and clarify the roles and responsibilities of WOAH focal points for animal disease notification to the WOAH
3. facilitate consistency and harmonisation amongst WOAH Members when assigning duties to these officials.
4. inform WOAH focal points and representatives from non-WOAH Members in in the Pacific Islands countries and territories about reporting requirements and the nature of information using WAHIS application as well as to appropriately consult the system
5. provide a forum for the WOAH national focal points for animal disease notification and representatives from non-WOAH Members in in the Pacific Islands countries and territories to interact with each other and WOAH staff, towards improving animal disease notifications across the region
6. support the WOAH national focal points for animal disease notification and representatives from non-WOAH Members in in the Pacific Islands countries and territories in building and participating in networks at the national, sub-regional, regional, and global scales
7. train WOAH national focal points for animal disease notification and representatives from non-WOAH Members in in the Pacific Islands countries and territories on the latest methods for reporting information at Member level using the WAHIS platform
8. collect user feedback to feed into future system and reporting requirements.

Introductory session for non-WOAH Members in the Pacific Islands countries and territories

1. enhance the understanding of WAHIS and its reporting requirements
2. introduce WAHIS animal disease reporting and encourage its use among non-WOAH Members in the Pacific Island countries and territories.
3. strengthen the understanding of WOAH’s activities and those of the WAHIAD Team.
4. ensure prior access to WAHIS and facilitate deeper engagement during the Main Training session.

Documents

Agenda: PDF

Participation: By invitation

Presentations

(to be updated)