From 24 to 29 November 2025, a specialized training course on disease outbreak investigation for representatives of the veterinary, healthcare, and environmental sectors of Turkmenistan was successfully held in Ashgabat.
From 24 to 29 November 2025, a specialized training course on disease outbreak investigation for representatives of the veterinary, healthcare, and environmental sectors of Turkmenistan was successfully held in Ashgabat. The training was organized within the framework of the regional Pandemic Fund project “Pandemic Preparedness and Response through a One Health Approach in Central Asia” (GCP/SEC/027/PAF), implemented by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in close partnership with the State Veterinary Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan.
This training made an important contribution to strengthening and improving epidemiological surveillance and enhancing interagency preparedness for cross-border infectious threats. The training was aimed at deepening the competencies of national specialists in the field of epidemiological investigations, the application of biosafety principles, modern sample collection methods, and intersectoral coordination in accordance with the international concept of "One Health." Particular attention was paid to studying the epidemiology of foot-and-mouth disease as a model disease for developing detection methods, analyzing transmission routes, assessing the extent of damage, and developing control and prevention measures.
The training included both theoretical lessons and practical field trips to a livestock farm, where participants practiced field diagnostic skills, the use of questionnaires and surveillance tools, risk factor assessment, and the development of coordinated solutions. The training was conducted by leading international FAO experts - David Paton, veterinary epidemiologist, and Duryia Charypkhan, animal health consultant, – in collaboration with national veterinary specialists. The implementation of such measures is important for further strengthening Turkmenistan's preparedness for cross-border infectious threats, improving mechanisms for the early detection of diseases, and developing sustainable epidemiological surveillance systems.
The training course was the first comprehensive event of this level in the country and created the basis for further improvement of human resources and rapid response in the context of the international "One Health" concept.
Аdditional information:
Oxana Kravtsova - Regional One Health Program Coordinator, okravtsova@carececo.org
Irina Bubenko - Regional One Health Program Specialist, ibubenko@carececo.org
Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)