Crisis Management Centre - Animal Health
Animal disease emergencies
Highly pathogenic avian influenza remains an unparalleled international crisis. Other animal diseases also present cause for alarm. Prevalent in many areas of the world, African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, Rift Valley fever and other transboundary animal diseases are often not recognized in time.
Swift to spread from herds to markets and beyond, some of these diseases are also transmissible to humans and can move to cities, countries and regions if left unchecked.
Rapid response
In light of the global repercussions of transboundary animal diseases on animal health and trade, and on human health, response efforts must be fast, well coordinated and strategically planned to help stop diseases before they spread.
The Crisis Management Centre - Animal Health (CMC-AH) is FAO’s rapid response mechanism for transboundary animal disease emergencies.
The Centre provides technical and operational assistance to help governments develop and implement immediate solutions to prevent or stop disease spread.
Rapid deployment team
The CMC-AH can field a rapid deployment team within 72 hours of an official request for or acceptance of assistance. Teams are composed of emergency response and animal health experts.
Key activities include:
- assessment
- control measures
- emergency action plan
- emergency funding package
- communication and compensation policies
- coordination
- resource mobilization
Disease tracking
With a direct link to FAO’s Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES), the Centre daily tracks the animal disease situation worldwide through information received from the Global Early Warning System (GLEWS). Daily risk analysis and decision-making allow the Centre to stay abreast of developments to respond rapidly and effectively.
Coordinated effort
Constant collaboration is the basis of all CMC-AH operations. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and World Health Organization (WHO) complement FAO technical expertise at every step. From initial tracking of disease situations to cross-sector analysis and post-mission follow up, the Centre puts partnerships to work.
Strategic transition
To facilitate the transition from immediate emergency assistance to longer-term support, the Centre initiates resource mobilization and project proposal formulation efforts for affected countries and regions.
