Brucellosis Progressive Control Workshop for Central Asia

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FAO have been collaborating to develop the Brucellosis One Health Guidance and Tools (BOHGAT), a set of complementary resources that use a multisectoral, One Health approach to assist counties in preventing, controlling and eliminating brucellosis in animals and people. Resources within the BOHGAT that are nearing finalization include the Stepwise Approach for the Progressive Control of Brucellosis (SAPCB) and the Staged Tool for the Elimination of Brucellosis (STEB). The SAPCB is a guidance document that provides principles, strategies and resources for countries to use to develop capacity to prevent and control brucellosis in animals and people. It builds on FAO’s existing stepwise approach model for disease control, providing guidance in a progressive manner that mirrors country-level steps toward improving capacity to prevent, control and eliminate brucellosis. The STEB is a Microsoft Excel-based self-assessment tool for countries to use to evaluate their existing capacity in country, as outlined in the SAPCB. By linking to guidance provided in the SAPCB, the STEB can help countries develop activities and monitor progress towards brucellosis prevention, control, and elimination. BOHGAT resources, including the SAPCB and the STEB are now in final draft form and are undergoing field testing by BOHGAT investigators through facilitated in-country pilot workshops with all relevant One Health ministries and partners. Country pilot workshops will include an introduction to SAPCB, an initial country assessment using the STEB, and an opportunity to draft next steps and action plans that will allow countries to systematically address brucellosis by identifying short and long-term priorities.

Recently, FAO received funding to develop a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) in Central Asia. The objectives of this TCP are to establish a regional network among five recipient countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) on priority livestock diseases. Brucellosis has been selected as an initial disease to focus preliminary regional network establishment, since this disease is high priority for all Central Asian countries and is associated with considerable economic and social impacts among the poorest members of society. Given this focus on brucellosis, FAO and CDC will conduct a Brucellosis Progressive Control Workshop. The purpose of the workshop will be to introduce the SAPCB and STEB, conduct initial country assessments with the STEB to identify gaps and next steps in brucellosis prevention and control activities in each of the five participating countries, and begin development of a regional coordination network for brucellosis.

This proposed workshop is intended to further in-country capacity to prevent, control and eliminate brucellosis in animals and people, build awareness of brucellosis activities occurring in the region, and initiate the development a regional coordination network for brucellosis. This is the first of two planned Brucellosis Progressive Control Workshops. The second workshop is anticipated to occur next year. Planned activities for the second workshop will include re-assessments of each participating country using the STEB and strategic planning to build regional capacity to prevent, control and eliminate brucellosis through the Central Asia network.

The workshop will be attended by representatives from the public health and veterinary relevant authorities, as well as CDC and FAO experts.