Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), conducted a 5-day training seminar on epidemiological surveillance and risk assessment for animal health. 

This training is part of the “Global Health Security” (GHS) Project - Strengthening animal health, One Health, and antimicrobial resistance capacities to prevent and mitigate zoonotic threats in Uzbekistan”. The seminar was attended by representatives from the Veterinary Committee, regional management staff, animal protection specialists, laboratory personnel, and veterinary epidemiology scientists.

Infectious animal diseases are monitored by veterinary services, but some of these diseases can emerge unpredictably, leading to significant economic losses and negatively impacting human health, livestock production, and international trade in livestock products.

The seminar addressed critical issues such as animal health challenges, disease control, and zoonotic diseases. It also covered food safety, particularly the safety of livestock products, in the context of animal protection and international trade.

More than 30 veterinary specialists and scientists from different regions of Uzbekistan, including Karakalpakstan, participated in this training programme. They improved their knowledge and skills to better identify and respond to animal health threats through practical and group work.

The training was led by Javier Guitian, a veterinary epidemiologist who heads the FAO Veterinary Epidemiology Reference Centre at the Royal Veterinary College.

“It is crucial to clearly define the goals of the surveillance program, as these goals will guide the development and implementation of the system. Note that goals can differ even for the same disease. For example, in a disease-free country or area, the goal of brucellosis surveillance might be early detection and confirmation of disease freedom status, whereas in an endemic country/area, the goal might be to assess the effectiveness of the control program,” emphasized Javier Guitian.

By the end of the seminar, participants had acquired skills in applying fundamental epidemiological principles for developing and implementing effective animal health surveillance activities, using risk assessment principles in animal health management, and conducting systematic quality assessments for identifying and evaluating risks.