Integrating Human and Animal Health in the STOP Spillover Outbreak Scenarios

To generate and employ scenarios of sentinel human and animal outbreak cases in local contexts that integrate human and animal health interests and practices and facilitate outbreak risk management readiness.

We conducted a scoping review of past outbreaks and the strengths and weaknesses of response efforts in USAID STOP Spillover program countries. This information and iterative query-and-response with country teams and local stakeholders led to curated outbreak scenarios emphasizing One Health human:animal interfaces at sub-national levels.

Two core scenarios were generated adapted to each of 4 countries’ pathogen priorities and workflows in Africa and Asia, anchoring on sub-national outbreak response triggered by either an animal or human health event. Country teams subsequently used these scenarios in a variety of local preparedness discussions and simulations. The process of creating outbreak scenarios encourages discussion and review of current country practices and procedures. Guideline documents and lessons learned do not necessarily reflect how workflows occur in outbreak response in countries at highest risk for spillover events.

Discussion-based engagement across One Health stakeholders can improve sub-national coordination, clarify guidelines and responsibilities, and provide a space for interagency cooperation through use of scenarios in tabletop and other exercises.