𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 (𝐛𝐓𝐁) 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧

Paro, Bhutan – October 30-31, 2024

The National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH) under the Department of Livestock is conducting a two-day workshop to assess the risk of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infection in Bhutan using a qualitative risk assessment approach. This workshop is conducted as a part of the project, “Developing Risk-Based Surveillance for Zoonotic Bovine Tuberculosis in Bhutan,” a collaboration between NCAH under the Department of Livestock (DoL), KhesarGyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB), and the University of Melbourne, Australia.

The workshop, held from October 30-31, 2024, aims to promote a shared understanding of the potential risks associated with bTB in Bhutan’s livestock sector and to develop strategies for a risk-based surveillance approach to mitigate zoonotic transmission. The Honorable Director of the Department of Livestock graced the workshop’s opening, highlighting the importance of a collective effort to protect public health and support Bhutan’s dairy industry.

Participants include representatives from the Department of Livestock (National Dairy Development Centre, regional and dzongkhag livestock offices), the Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, the Royal Centre for Disease Control, KGUMSB, and the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA). This diverse group of participantsensure a holistic perspective on the issue, incorporating expertise from animal health, public health, regulatory and disease surveillance.

Throughout the two-day workshop, experts will engage in structured discussions on qualitative risk assessment methods, examining factors that influence bTB prevalence, transmission, and its impact. By bringing together diverse expertise, this workshop will support the development of evidence-based recommendations for bTB monitoring and control, contributing to Bhutan’s broader goals of safeguarding public health and sustaining livestock productivity.

The outcome of this workshop is expected to lay the groundwork for an effective risk-based surveillance model for bovine tuberculosis, setting the stage for improved control measures and cross-sectoral collaboration in managing zoonotic diseases.

The workshop is jointly facilitated by Dr. JP Villanueva-Cabezas from the University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty institute for Infection and Immunity and Dr Sangay Rinchen from the National Centre for Animal Health, Department of Livestock.

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