USDA holds workshop to raise awareness of zoonotic diseases in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) jointly held a workshop on Zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that can spread to humans from animals, such as Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever, rabies, brucellosis and avian influenza.

The workshop brought decision makers and scientists together to agree on a list of priority zoonotic diseases. In addition to strengthening the federal, provincial and animal/human health cross-sectoral collaboration, the workshop resulted in a plan for future disease control efforts.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony in Islamabad, experts from the CDC said that the Zoonotic diseases are important health concerns, and control requires collaboration between Pakistan’s veterinary and human health sectors. 

The participants of the workshop were trained in the One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritisation process and One Health Systems Mapping and Analysis Resource Toolkit. 

The final report, approved by all ministries representing core voting members, will be published after around two months after this workshop.

Dr. Stephanie Salyer, a veterinary epidemiologist with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Center for Global Health, Dr. Kate Varela, a veterinary medical officer-ORISE Research Participant within the One Health Office at CDC and Grace Goryoka, a health scientist-ORISE Research Participant within the One Health Office at CDC conducted the workshop.