NATIONAL BRIDGING WORKSHOP NETWORK REUNION 2023

From 12 to 14 December 2023, colleagues from all three levels of the One Health Quadripartite gathered in Istanbul, Türkiye, for the second in-person National Bridging Workshop (NBW) Network Reunion. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly changed the One Health landscape, resulting in increased interest and recognition of the benefits of multisectoral coordination to safeguard global health security.

With over 50 NBWs conducted worldwide, participants from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) shared their experiences and views for the scope of the NBW program during the meeting.

Despite differing experiences, the three days of lively discussion highlighted the closeness of the relationship between all levels of the four organizations and the strength of the NBW program in promoting multisectoral collaboration to address zoonotic pathogens at the human-animal-environment interface.

HENIPAVIRUS JOINT RISK ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP IN MANILA

Following the recent outbreak of Nipah virus in India, the Philippine inter-agency committee on zoonosis conducted a Joint Risk Assessment (JRA) for Henipaviruses to provide general risk mitigation options and consider enhanced protection of at-risk farmers, workers, and communities.A workshop facilitated by the Quadripartite Organizations (FAO/UNEP/WHO/WOAH) was held from 28 to 30 November 2023 in Manila, Philippines, and followed the steps of the Joint Risk Assessment Operational Tool of the Tripartite Zoonosis Guide.

The only documented Nipah virus outbreak in the country was in 2014 which involved infected horses, but remained inconclusive regarding the original virus source. Jointly, relevant Philippine institutions and ministries form the human, animal and environment sector assessed the likelihood and impact of different future scenarios in the country and explored risk management options. Another major outcome of the workshop was the identification of data needs for future assessments.

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