Edition: 6 to 17 November 2023
PARTNERSHIPS
![]() ©fao | ASIA AND THE PACIFIC FAO and DTRA launch an animal health project to combat biothreats and emerging infectious diseases in Southeast Asia FAO and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) of the United States Government have launched a four–year regional project that aims to reduce the risk and impact of existing and future biothreats and emerging infectious diseases originating from animals in Southeast Asia. The project inception workshop was organized from 8 to 10 November 2023, together with six recipient countries, including Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The USD 10.5 million project will strengthen animal health systems and build the capacities essential to pandemic preparedness, protecting the region against future disease outbreaks. |
![]() ©fao | PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGION FAO and Papua New Guinea discuss Global Health Security Program (GHSP) implementation plans
FAO ECTAD in Papua New Guinea and FAO ECTAD Regional Office in Asia and the Pacific held discussions on the implementation modality of the new USAID grant under the Global Health Security Program (GHSP). The weeklong mission involved meetings with government officials, USAID and relevant stakeholders and implementing partners. The mission focused on advocacy to strengthen animal health capacity and One health approach through FAO mechanism in the country. |
Learn more about our partnerships here. |
AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF)
![]() ©Bureau of Animal Industry | THE PHILIPPINES One Health campaign to protect endemic wild pigs from ASF
The Philippine's Bureau of Animal Industry organized the ASF Threat to Domestic and Wild Pigs campaign from 18 to 20 October 2023 in Cagayan De Oro City. Funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea (ROK), the campaigns focused on sharing information and increasing coordination between animal health and environment officers for better surveillance of potential ASF incursion in Philippine warty pigs (Sus philippensis) found in the protected areas of Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park and Mount Balatukan Range Natural Park. |
![]() ©FAO/Saskia Soedarjo | INDONESIA AND ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGION Community ASF Biosecurity Intervention (CABI) programme in North Sulawesi Province
From 13 to 18 November 2023, FAO and the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture conducted preliminary data collection to implement the CABI programme in North Sulawesi Province, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea (ROK). Representatives from FAO and MoA worked together with Disease Investigation Center (DIC) Maros, North Sulawesi Plantation and Livestock Provincial officers, and district animal health officers, visiting three villages in Minahasa, North Minahasa and South Minahasa districts. The team interviewed pig farmers and assisted them in filling out the CABI questionnaires. During the field visit, the team also observed biosecurity implementation around the pigpen, and DIC Maros personnel took blood samples and oropharyngeal swabs for laboratory testing for ASF. |
Learn more about our work on ASF here. |
LABORATORY
![]() ©FAO/Surendra Karki | NEPAL Veterinary laboratory assessed using FAO Laboratory Mapping Tool in Nepal
Through the USAID-funded Global Health Security Program (GHSP) project, FAO supported the assessment of two veterinary laboratories in Nepal using FAO’s Laboratory Mapping Tool. International Laboratory Expert Dr Chris Morrissy and veterinary officers from the Central Veterinary Laboratory visited the veterinary laboratory in Pokhara and the national avian laboratory in Chitwan from 5 to 9 November 2023. Utilizing the structured LMT tool, the team were able to assess the current function of respective laboratories and identify gaps for further improvements. |
Learn more about our work on capacity development of laboratory here. |
ONE HEALTH
![]() ©FAO/Dian Tarigan | INDONESIA ASEAN One Health bioinformatics workshop
From 15 to 17 November 2023, FAO collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Disease Investigation Centre (DIC) Wates, the Australian Government and USAID Mission in Indonesia to conduct a three-day hybrid ASEAN One Health Bioinformatics workshop. During the workshop, DIC Wates, as the ASEAN Regional Reference Centre for Bioinformatics, trained and gave technical guidance to more than 25 national veterinary laboratories from ASEAN Member States, and Indonesian national veterinary laboratories and public health laboratories, on bioinformatics for avian influenza. The workshop aims to improve capacity in: performing Sanger and next-generation sequencing (Illumina and Nanopore) data analysis from raw sequencer to polished reads of AI virus; utilizing bioinformatics software for molecular evolutionary analysis; and interpreting genetic data and bioinformatics analysis for molecular epidemiology and overall understanding of the evolution of avian influenza virus. |
![]() ©FAO/Yin Myo Aye | INDIA AND ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGION Introduction of One Health zoonotic disease prioritization to India
FAO discussed disease prioritization, including the US CDC’s One Health zoonotic disease prioritization (OHZDP), with representatives from Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in India on 6 November 2023. Meeting participants also discussed potential ways forward based on the national contexts and needs, such as animal disease prioritization and strengthening of One Health coordination using the Multisectoral Coordination Mechanisms Operational Tool (MCM OT). |
![]() ©FAO/Yin Myo Aye | THE PHILIPPINES AND ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGION Virtual training on Joint Risk Assessment Operational Tool
FAO, WHO and WOAH provided virtual training on the Joint Risk Assessment Operational Tool (JRA OT) to local facilitators in the Philippines on 17 November 2023 to prepare for the upcoming JRA OT workshop in the country. The local facilitators included 12 representatives from animal, human and environmental health sectors and FAO and WHO country offices participating in the training. Thanks to USAID’s continuous support, the JRA OT workshop will be organized in Manila from 28 to 30 November 2023. |
Learn more about our work on One health here. |
EPIDEMIOLOGY
![]() ©fao/Surendra Karki | NEPAL Capacity building training for quality sample submission |
Learn more about our work on epidemiology here. |
RISK REDUCTION ALONG THE VALUE CHAIN
![]() ©BAI | THE PHILIPPINES Equipping frontline veterinarians on animal import risk analysis A workshop and training on import risk analysis (IRA) was conducted from 14 to 16 November 2023 in Clark, Pampanga, in partnership with the Philippines’ Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Philippine College of Veterinary Epidemiologists and FAO. The training aimed to strengthen the BAI workforce’s technical skills in conducting IRA and to train the concerned offices to produce IRA documents as reference material to develop guidelines and policies. Thanks to USAID for the funding support, these efforts will help address issues in importing different animals, animal products and by-products. Fifteen BAI National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division and Animal Health and Welfare Division staff participated in the workshop. |
![]() ©FAO/Adyharja Soekarno | INDONESIA Workshop on national cattle value chain analysis to mitigate disease risk factors FAO and the Directorate General Livestock and Animal Health (DGLAHS), with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), hosted the national value chain analysis workshop for cattle from 14 to 16 November 2023. The workshop sought to identify risk hotspots and devise strategies to mitigate the concerns surrounding foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD). The workshop, led by FAO International Expert on Value Chain Analysis Damian Tago, discussed stakeholder identification, stakeholder linkages, production flow along the value chain, seasonality, uncertainty of information/knowledge regarding stakeholder groups, and gender roles. The participants included representatives from breeding centers, local governments, associations, private companies, the Animal Quarantine Agency, and Disease Investigation Centers. |
![]() ©FAO/Andri Jatikusumah | INDONESIA Biosecurity assessment for foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease and lumpy skin disease (LSD) prevention FAO, the Directorate General Livestock and Animal Health (DGLAHS), and Melissa Mclaws, an expert from FAO’s Animal Production and Health Division (NSAH), conducted a comprehensive biosecurity assessment in Malang, East Java, from 14 to 15 November 2023. With the support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the purpose of this visit was to investigate existing biosecurity practices and formulate optimal strategies for preventing and controlling foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) based on findings using the Progressive Management Pathway for Terrestrial Animal Biosecurity approach. |
![]() ©FAO/Alia Dwirahmani | INDONESIA Accelerating foot-and-mouth (FMD) vaccination in West Sumatera through risk communication dissemination FAO and Directorate General Livestock and Animal Health (DGLAHS) visited West Sumatra to support the acceleration of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination through risk communication dissemination on 13-14 November 2023. This field visit started with a one-day workshop in West Sumatera Provincial Livestock and Animal Health Services with animal health officers from Padang Pariaman, West Pasaman, Solok and Sijunjung. A total of 128 animal health officers from four districts gathered to review the implementation of FMD vaccination in West Sumatera and identify the gaps and challenges at district levels. Based on the discussion, the attending district animal health officers committed to conducting information, education and communication (IEC) dissemination activities along with vaccination within their respective areas between 14 and 17 November 2023. |
![]() ©FAO/Andri Jatikusumah | INDONESIA Field evaluation on foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease and lumpy skin disease (LSD) control FAO Regional Asia Pacific Animal Health Expert Peter Black, with the team from FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), recently assessed FMD and LSD control strategies in West Java Province on 7 November 2023. The team visited two sites in West Java to observe the practical implementation of FMD and LSD vaccination strategies, post-vaccination monitoring, as well as biosecurity and movement control measures. Starting at Ciwareng Animal Market, the team engaged with local animal health officers to discuss market conditions and response strategies to FMD outbreaks. The dialogue continued at the Dairy Cooperative in Lembang, exploring the economic implications of FMD and LSD and emphasizing vaccination and disease control efforts. These activities are all supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). |
Learn more about our work on risk reduction along the value chain here. |
SURVEILLANCE
![]() ©fao | ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Regional consultation on environmental influenza surveillance |
![]() ©fao/Ali Arasyi | INDONESIA Influenza Virus Monitoring management team meeting |
Learn more about our work on surveillance here. |