Animal health

New FAO project to strengthen biosecurity practices in Gabon in the fight against zoonotic diseases

©FAO/Bob Inanga

27/11/2024,

As part of efforts to enhance risk management along Gabon's bushmeat value chain and prevent spillover of zoonoses and future pandemics, FAO organized a three-day workshop from 19 -21 November 2024.

The workshop launched a new project aimed at reducing the risk of transboundary zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential by improving disease intelligence and biosecurity.

Due to a myriad of potential risks such as infectious diseases, food insecurity, socio-economic challenges, and disease spillovers from wildlife, Gabon was chosen as a pilot country. The implementation of FAO's Progressive Management Pathway for Terrestrial Animal Biosecurity (PMP-TAB) is a key component of the project which provides a framework for risk management in animal health and production including promotion of public-private collaboration to strengthen early warning systems and biosecurity for emerging pests and diseases.

Additionally, the initiative will assess Gabon's needs to monitor health risks and highlight the benefits of leveraging FAO’s EMPRES-i Global Animal Disease Information System and the EMA-i mobile application. The project will address gaps through the deployment of tailored solutions, aiming to establish a robust disease intelligence system focused on the human-animal-environment interface.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to discuss the project's goals and approaches. Together, the participants identified priorities and developed a work plan to address existing gaps. The outcomes of the project are envisioned to build resilient health systems and prevent future pandemics in Gabon and beyond.