FAO advances regional pandemic preparedness through national One Health courses in India and Sri Lanka

Bangkok – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has completed two national rollouts of Introduction to One Health course in India and Sri Lanka, a four-week, tutor-supported programme tailored to country needs. More than 600 professionals participated, underscoring strong demand for practical, cross-sector training that helps prevent and detect threats at the human, animal, wildlife and environment interface.

South Asia’s risk landscape makes this investment crucial. Since the International Health Regulations took effect in 2005, six Public Health Emergencies of International Concern have been declared globally, five of which have animal origins. This shows that animal and environmental health are central to stopping pandemics before they start.

In India, about 540 million livestock and an estimated 850 million poultry make animal health security a national priority. FAO’s course complements investments under India’s One Health Mission by strengthening coordination among animal health, public health and environmental authorities. “This kind of human, animal and wildlife collaboration is critical when an outbreak threatens to spill over from one sector to another,” said Dr Praveen Malik, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, ad interim, Government of India. “Prediction, detection, response, mitigation and follow-up all require joint work. This course gives our field officers practical tools suited to Indian conditions so they can act together and act early.”

In Sri Lanka, recovery from recent economic turbulence coincides with increased human–animal contact driven by deforestation and urbanization. The country’s high biodiversity spans diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands and coastal areas, some of which can support disease vectors and zoonotic disease transmission. Expanding trade and tourism further raise risks across borders. “Amid these changes, we brought together animal, public health, fisheries, plant and natural resources professionals as well as students to this online course, focusing on building a common One Health baseline that underscores the need for joint action,” said Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative in Sri Lanka.

Delivered through FAO Virtual Learning Centres (VLCs), the course used country cases and guided discussion to turn theory into practice. Participants traced transmission, applied joint risk assessment and rehearsed outbreak steps from verification to follow up, building skills that matter in the first few hours of a potential outbreak. The tutor-supported online format widened access for provincial and district officers and serves as a prerequisite for mentors and trainers in the FAO Field Training Programme on Wildlife, Environment, Biodiversity and Ecosystems (FTP-WEBE).

Across the region, VLCs provide a consistent One Health baseline that Member Nations can adapt to their contexts, standardize methods, accelerate learning and link national training to regional initiatives. “The Virtual Learning Centres let us deliver a shared foundation at scale and at speed,” said Filip Claes, Officer-in-Charge of the FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases in Asia and the Pacific. “Member Nations can customize modules to their realities while drawing on international tutors and comparable tools; therefore, the step from online learning to field operations is faster and more effective.”

FAO, through the VLC, implemented these national courses in collaboration with government partners, made possible with support from the Pandemic Fund. FAO will continue to work with Member Nations across the region to translate One Health from concept to coordinated practice and reduce the risk of future pandemics.