Implementation of a One Health Surveillance System in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Active animal disease surveillance is essential for detecting zoonotic emerging infectious diseases. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), limited infrastructure, economic instability, and armed conflict constrain surveillance capability. This ongoing work to characterize the prevalence of zoonoses like Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus implements an in-country One Health approach to disease surveillance and capacity building in a limited-resource setting. Veterinarians and technicians from the DRC's Central Veterinary Laboratory with technical support from national and international partners completed 135 site visits across 9 provinces between June 2023 and July 2024 collecting bovine, porcine, and human serum samples along with attached and grossly engorged ticks. At each site, community animal health workers and local veterinarians were invited to participate for training in clinical competencies and emerging zoonosis identification. Facility survey data revealed that, while more than half of sites report using antibiotics (63% of sites with cattle; 75% of sites with swine), only a quarter of sites vaccinate livestock (18% of sites with cattle; 28% of sites with swine)-a larger trend of curative care outpacing preventative action. This disparity demonstrates a need for veterinary capacity strengthening to realize long-term gains in disease prevention and economic stability.