Asia-Pacific digital hub for veterinary epidemiology and regional collaboration

Bangkok – In today's interconnected world, animal diseases can spread rapidly across borders, putting communities, economies and food systems at risk. Protecting animal health requires not only technical expertise, but also strong collaboration, timely knowledge-sharing and a One Health approach that recognizes the link between people, animals and the environment.

The Asia and the Pacific region, with its rich biodiversity and large livestock sector, is especially vulnerable to animal and public health challenges, such as transboundary animal diseases and emerging infectious diseases. Strengthening veterinary epidemiology capacity, as the foundation for preventing, detecting, and responding to these threats, is essential for safeguarding livestock, protecting public health and supporting livelihoods across the region.

To help meet this need, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), launched the ENTRVST at VIV Asia 2025. ENTRVST, which stands for the Asia-Pacific Epidemiology Network for Training, Utilizing the Veterinary Workforce, and Sharing Evidence for Trust, is a peer-to-peer network for animal health professionals across the region, dedicated to strengthening veterinary epidemiology capacities.

As part of the launch, ENTRVST introduced its virtual hub, hosted by FAO Virtual Learning Centre and funded by the Australian Government. The platform leverages a variety of virtual modalities to strengthen the veterinary epidemiology workforce by enabling knowledge-sharing, supporting continues professional development and promoting the practical application of epidemiology to address animal health threats.

"Animal diseases are becoming more complex and strong regional networks are key to responding effectively," said Kachen Wongsathapornchai, FAO Senior Animal Health Officer and ECTAD Regional Manager. "ENTRVST encourages Member Nations to work together and learn from each other, helping to build a more resilient animal health system."

The idea for ENTRVST emerged in April 2023, when representatives from nine countries and partner organizations met in Bangkok to explore how to enhance veterinary epidemiology capacity and application in the region. They agreed on the need for more peer-to-peer collaboration and continued professional development. With support from its partners, FAO has developed ENTRVST to bridge this gap.

The ENTRVST virtual hub offers streamlined access to a wide range of learning resources from both FAO and other sources. Designed for veterinarians, researchers, students and animal health practitioners, the platform allows users to easily navigate resources organised by key thematic topics. In addition to these resources, the platform fosters peer-to-peer support through VetEpi Connect, where users can ask the questions, share insights and help one another. The virtual hub also features FieldCast (a blend of fieldwork and podcast), where professionals showcase their fieldwork, helping others learn from real-world successes and challenges.

ENTRVST is grounded in the idea that trust, built through shared learning and collective action, is essential to strengthening epidemiology workforce and strengthening the veterinary epidemiology workforce and advancing a One Health approach to protect animal, human and environmental health. Whether in the lab, in the field or at the policy level, every member of this growing network contributes to shaping a more resilient, connected and collaborative health system for all.