WOAH EmVetNet

World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) EmVetNet, Biological Threat Reduction
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) EmVetNet

The WOAH (founded as OIE) Collaborating Centre Network for Veterinary Emergencies is a network of three centers, each with established expertise in a specific area of emergency and disaster management, who endeavor to exchange knowledge, encourage best practices, share expertise between, and support the capacity building processes of OIE Member Countries.

The worldwide WOAH Collaborating Center network on Veterinary Emergencies (formerly known as OIE EmVetNet) currently operates for the following purposes:

  • To provide technical advice and support for training, exercising, and evaluation
    across the emergency management cycle for all hazards, and to facilitate
    multidisciplinary approaches.
  • To exchange and share knowledge on best practices (including models and
    case studies e.g. model legislation, contingency/emergency plans,
    communication).
  • To make recommendations on research needs to support veterinary
    emergency management.
  • To identify, cooperate and coordinate with stakeholders (Member
    Countries, NGOs, public health, private sector) and seek to extend and
    diversify the network.
  • To support operational activities e.g. OIE, Tripartite (WHO, OIE, FAO),
    GOARN, or EMC response missions.

Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases (IIAD) contributions:
IIAD focused on biological threat reduction

  • IIAD have taken on a project to assess the vulnerability of the animal health sector to agro-crime and agro-terrorism (2019-2020).
  • IIAD and CENSA supported the OIE ad hoc group on veterinary emergencies to draft guidance on simulation exercises (2019-2020).
  • IIAD, CENSA, and IZSAM mobilized to provide support to the Bahamas, specifically the Grand Bahamas and Abacos islands, after Hurricane Dorian (September 2019).

Involved IIAD Staff: Heather Simmons, Jimmy Tickel

News and Reports: