Workshop: risk-based management of spillover events in wildlife in India

Pandemic preparedness: Workshop on risk-based management of spillover events in wildlife in India

Background

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is the global authority on animal health, focussed on transparently disseminating information on animal diseases, improving animal health globally and thus building a safer, healthier and more sustainable world. The WOAH Wildlife Health Framework “Protecting Wildlife Health to achieve One Health” recognises that multi-sectoral collaborations are needed, linking Veterinary Services with other authorities and professionals in addressing health threats. WOAH is using Guidelines, Standards and risk reduction strategies to identify gaps and needs relevant to spillover events between wildlife, domestic animals and humans. This “One Health” approach of collaboration and coordination is essential for a sustainable future for wildlife, ecosystems, humans and domestic animals alike.

As evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to increase country and regional pandemic preparedness to mitigate the impacts of future pandemic events in the Asia and the Pacific Region. WOAH is working together with partners in the Quadripartite—United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—to tackle this issue. It is important to enhance cross-sectoral One Health collaboration to improve pandemic preparedness and management of disease spillover events in the region via activities such as a series of workshops.

For this objective WOAH, in partnership with the Department for Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, held the “Pandemic preparedness: WOAH workshop on risk-based management of spillover events in wildlife in India” this 11-12 September 2023.

Objectives

To enhance knowledge for relevant stakeholders on risk analysis for diseases originating from wildlife: risk of introduction, risk of spread, and risk of impact. This included sharing up-to-date WOAH guidelines.
To perform a gap analysis of risk assessment/communication/management in India, based on real data provided by the country in advance of the workshop.
To better understand the factors involved in risk management by performing a simulation exercise using fictional and/or real-life data.
To increase communication and awareness among different stakeholders responsible for surveillance and response to possible spillover diseases.