TRIPARTITE ZOONOSIS GUIDE OPERATIONAL TOOLS FOR HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

In September 2024, the workshop titled Applying One Health Tools from the Tripartite Zoonosis Guide (TZG) to Increase Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Preparedness and Response Capacity was held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The workshop aimed to enhance collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health sectors to improve responses to HPAI, using the Tripartite Zoonoses Guide Operational Tools.

Key objectives included updating participants on HPAI trends, introducing tools from the TZG for better preparedness, and defining actions needed for improving HPAI response in participating countries. The workshop featured expert presentations, country- specific updates, and practical exercises to apply TZG tools. Countries represented included Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Feedback highlighted the workshop’s success but suggested improvements in exercise difficulty and time management. Future recommendations involve supporting countries in outbreak responses and integrating TZG tools with existing WHO mechanisms, like the Strategic Toolkit for Assessing Risks and National Action Plans for Health Security.