Focal Points for Disease Notification Training 2026

WOAH animal disease notification training, including the use of World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), for WOAH Focal Points for Animal Disease Notification in Asia and the Pacific

Background

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is the mandated international organisation that collects data on, monitors, and analyses animal diseases worldwide. 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, was 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 ran from 3-5 February 2026 (3 full days each).

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

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

Objectives

The aims of the training are:

Main training session

1. Train the WOAH Focal Points for Animal Disease Notification and representatives from non-WOAH Members in the Pacific Island countries and territories to be important stewards with respect to animal disease reporting, 
2. Explain and clarify the roles and responsibilities of WOAH Focal Points for Animal Disease Notification, 
3. Facilitate consistency and harmonisation amongst WOAH Members when assigning duties to these officials,
4. Inform the WOAH Focal Points and representatives from non-WOAH Members in the Pacific Island countries and territories about reporting requirements and the nature of information using the WAHIS application, and how to appropriately consult the system,
5. Provide a forum for WOAH Focal Points for Animal Disease Notification and representatives from non-WOAH Members in the Pacific Islands countries and territories to interact with each other and WOAH staff, towards improving animal disease notifications across Asia and the Pacific region,
6. Support the WOAH Focal Points for Animal Disease Notification and representatives from non-WOAH Members in the Pacific Island countries and territories in building and participating in networks at the national, sub-regional, regional, and global scales,
7. Train the WOAH Focal Points for Animal Disease Notification and representatives from non-WOAH Members in the Pacific Islands countries and territories on the latest methods for reporting information domestically using the WAHIS platform, and
8. Collect user feedback to feed into future system and reporting requirements.

Objectives of the introductory session for non-WOAH Members in the Pacific Islands countries and territories were to:

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 WAHIAD team, and
4. Ensure prior access to WAHIS and facilitate deeper engagement during the ‘main workshop’ session.

Note: the workshop was divided into three sections –

1. Online pre-training meeting / ‘pre-assessment’ (22 January 2026, via Zoom)
2. Introductory session for non-WOAH members in the Pacific Islands countries and territories: Day 0 (2 February 2026, in-person: Putrajaya, Malaysia)
3. Main training session: Day 1 – 3 (3 – 5 February 2026, in-person: Putrajaya, Malaysia) 

Documents

Agenda: PDF

Participation: By invitation

Presentations

Day 0 : Introduction to WOAH

Animal Disease Surveillance in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (SPC)

Surveilance Activities (Cook Islands, Samoa)

Day 1 : Reporting requirement, Annual Report and Active Search Activity

Day 2 : Immediate Notification and Follow-up Report

Day 3 : Six-Monthly Report