Framework for early warning of animal health threats

Increasing the number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies is a key indicator of the Priority Programme Area on One Health (OH PPA), which falls under the better production Goal of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031. This goal aims to foster transformation towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.Effective early warning systems (EWS) are a critical component of reducing risk. This framework lays out the technical objectives and the structural and institutional set-up for the operationalization and management of EWS against infectious animal diseases under a systems approach, which considers the overall strengthening of animal health surveillance systems and the capacity to implement risk-based strategies and respond to detected signals.The framework is not meant to add the burden of creating yet another system, but rather to guide countries in strengthening the various components of surveillance already in place, to improve, specifically, the efficacy of existing systems to detect and respond to hazards as early and reliably as possible.The framework’s scope is not restricted to the early detection of new and emerging threats or the detection of alerts with emergent potential. All collection of information from the monitoring of risks and the surveillance of animal diseases, and the collation of this information as early as possible to inform disease prevention, detection and control, are covered within its scope.Inspired by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and related resources, this framework considers an EWS to be composed of four main components: risk monitoring, surveillance for early detection, communication and information delivery and preparedness to respond.