Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases continue to pose a significant threat to public health, livelihoods and economic stability worldwide. More than 60% of emerging infectious diseases that are reported globally come from animals, both wild and domestic, highlighting the importance of effective collaboration across human health, animal health and environmental sectors. Recent outbreaks have demonstrated that zoonotic diseases can spread rapidly across borders, requiring timely information-sharing, joint risk assessment and coordinated response efforts among multiple sectors and countries.
Central Asia is characterized by extensive cross-border movement of people, animals and goods, as well as shared ecosystems and natural resources. These factors create opportunities for the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases and other health threats that may affect multiple countries simultaneously. Strengthening collaboration and coordination among relevant sectors is therefore essential for the effective prevention and detection of and response to public health events at the human-animal-environment interface.
Exercise CARAVAN 2026 is organized under the Pandemic Fund-supported multicountry project and will provide a platform for countries in Central Asia to test and strengthen cross-border coordination, communication and information-sharing mechanisms for the management of emerging zoonotic threats. Through a realistic and evolving scenario, the exercise will support participating countries in enhancing operational readiness and advancing the implementation of the One Health approach.
- assess the effectiveness of multisectoral coordination for the management of zoonotic disease events;
- test how human health, animal health, environmental, emergency management and other relevant sectors collaborate, share information and coordinate decision-making in response to an evolving zoonotic threat;
- test national and cross-border information-sharing and communication processes during a public health event with regional implications;
- test the ability of participating countries to exchange timely and accurate information with relevant national authorities, neighbouring countries and international partners using established communication channels and procedures; and
- review the application of national procedures for risk assessment, response and decision-making during an emerging zoonotic disease event.
The geographic scope includes countries in Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
Exercise format
Exercise CARAVAN 2026 is a functional exercise in which National International Health Regulations Focal Points (NFPs), working in coordination with animal health, environmental and emergency management sectors, will perform the routine tasks and responsibilities associated with their roles in response to scenario-based injects provided by the Exercise Management Team from WHO/Europe
Participants will not be required to travel and will engage remotely from their usual workplaces or emergency coordination settings, operating under conditions that closely reflect their normal working environment
The exercise will simulate real-time communication, event assessment, and information-sharing and coordination processes, including interaction with national stakeholders, neighbouring countries, WHO and other relevant partners. The exercise will last approximately 4 hours, followed by a 45-minute debriefing session
