OSRO/BGD/303/USA Donor: United States of America

Project Highlights

BANGLADESH

“Strengthening national capacity to respond to emerging and re-emerging pandemic threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza in Bangladesh” Project code: OSRO/BGD/303/USA Donor: United States of America

Contribution: USD 1 750 000

Implementation: 01/10/13 – 31/12/14 Target areas: Bhola, Chittagong, Comilla, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Feni, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Meherpur, Naogaon, Natore, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Sylhet and Tangail Michael Thomas Robson, FAO Representative, FAO Bangladesh. [email protected] Contact Dominique Burgeon, Director, Emergency and Rehabilitation Division. [email protected] Objective: To contribute to the improvement of livelihoods of vulnerable population in Bangladesh by safeguarding human and animal health as well as improving food security and safety. Key partners: The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) of the Bangladeshi Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh, the United States Center for Disease Control and the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). Beneficiaries reached: DLS staff, the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), the Central Disease Investigation Laboratory (CDIL), 492 subdistricts (upazilas), veterinary surgeons and the international community. Activities  Provided technical and logistical support to DLS, BLRI, CDIL and two national universities. implemented:  Collected and tested 16 167 samples for influenza A viruses, of which 673 were tested positive.  Developed a Livestock Disease Information System (LDIS) and trained all relevant DLS field staff on its application.  Disseminated a web-based information system to support DLS animal disease surveillance to all 492 upazilas in the country and trained 427 DLS staff on its application.  Piloted LDIS in 40 upazilas selected by DLS.  Trained veterinary surgeons within upazilas through four divisional-level training programmes organized jointly by the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease Operations and DLS.  Conducted four joint visits with the epidemiology unit and CDIL for two post-highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak investigations in Tangail and Jessore, an anthrax outbreak in Sirajganj and a peste des petits ruminants outbreak in Bhola and Meherpur.  Recruited, trained and mobilized 30 additional veterinary surgeons and one field assistant to identify disease hotspots.  Conducted a survey of live bird markets (LBMs) in nine cities and a needs assessment survey of six selected LBMs in Comilla, Feni, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Jhenaidah and Sherpur.  Organized a three-day international One Health conference in Dhaka in collaboration with IEDCR and One Health Bangladesh. Results:  Strengthened biosecurity and HPAI awareness through active surveillance, training and information dissemination.  Established strong partnership with DLS to allow for the smooth transmission of information and collective action.  Enhanced DLS’ capacity through the development and ownership of a risk-based active surveillance system, an improved LDIS and the geospatial mapping database of poultry farms and LBMs.  Minimized the risk of incursion and spread of emerging and re-emerging diseases of significant public health and economic impact in the country, including H5N1 HPAI.