To address current challenges related to disease emergence in livestock and humans, new integrated approaches are needed to promote collaboration between actors and groups towards more effective control. Southeast Asia is considered a hotspot for diseases emergence as demonstrated by the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Such new approaches include the ‘ecohealth’ concept, an approach pioneered over the last decades by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

To promote ecohealth in the region, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) implemented, between 2008 and 2013, a capacity building project (EcoZD) funded by IDRC targeting six Southeast Asia countries. The overall objective was ‘to increase the knowledge, skills and capacity of research and infectious disease control personnel in southeast Asia to understand the risks and impacts of emerging infectious diseases and how feasible options can best be implemented and adapted’ via a ‘learning by doing’ approach.

This poster, prepared for the Tropentag 2014 conference, shares the successes and challenges in promoting and building up capacity of ecohealth for the control of zoonotic emerging infectious diseases in the EcoZD project.

This week, ILRI staff are participating in the Tropentag 2014 International Conference in Prague (17-19 September 2014). There is also a dedicated ‘ILRI@40’ side event on ‘Livestock-based options for sustainable food and nutritional security and healthy lives.’  See all the posters.