CBPP : Regional training course on abattoir surveillance

In addition to CBPP‑like lesions, participants discussed the detection of:

• Cysticercosis, a major zoonotic foodborne parasitic infection where timely identification in carcasses is critical for consumer protection.
• Echinococcosis (hydatidosis), another high‑impact zoonotic parasitic disease that affects both public health and livestock productivity.
• Fascioliasis, which—though not zoonotic in this context—results in liver condemnation and contributes to reduced carcass value, underscoring its economic importance.

The participants also reviewed several respiratory and systemic diseases that may mimic CBPP or be encountered during slaughter, reinforcing the role of abattoirs as strategic surveillance points. These included:

• Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida, key bacterial agents of bovine respiratory disease.
• Bovine Herpesvirus‑1 (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis) and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus, important viral causes of respiratory outbreaks.
• Mycoplasma bovis, a major cause of chronic pneumonia and polyarthritis.
• Bovine tuberculosis, a critical zoonotic disease with major public health relevance and characteristic granulomatous lesions detectable at meat inspection.
• Actinobacillosis, which can produce pyogranulomatous lesions in soft tissues and occasionally in the thoracic cavity.

Highlighting this broader set of diseases reinforced the message that investing in strong abattoir surveillance systems yields multiple co‑benefits, improving animal health intelligence, strengthening zoonotic disease detection, enhancing meat safety, and protecting the integrity and value of livestock value chains.

Building Capacity Through a Training of Trainers Model

The workshop was designed as a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme, equipping participants not only with technical knowledge but also with the tools to cascade training within their respective countries.

Through interactive sessions, participants practiced delivering training modules and discussed strategies for adapting materials to national contexts. This approach ensures that the impact of the workshop extends beyond the initial participants to reach a broader network of veterinary professionals.

Strengthening Surveillance and Regional Collaboration

Discussions emphasised the importance of:

• Strengthening disease reporting systems for CBPP as a notifiable disease
• Leveraging abattoirs as key surveillance points
• Enhancing laboratory capacity for timely confirmation of cases
• Promoting cross-border collaboration given the transboundary nature of the disease

Participants also explored the use of digital tools and communication platforms to improve data sharing and coordination across countries.

Looking Ahead: From Training to Action

A strong consensus emerged on the need to translate knowledge into action. Key priorities identified include:

• Replicating training at national and local levels
• Strengthening veterinary service capacity, particularly in abattoirs
• Enhancing public–private partnerships to mobilize resources
• Building and sustaining a regional network for continuous learning and collaboration

Participants committed to maintaining communication through established platforms and to sharing progress as they implement training activities in their home countries.

A Collective Commitment to Progress: : Investing in Systems that Deliver Real Impact

To translate the momentum of this regional training into sustained progress, targeted investment and coordinated national action are urgently needed. Countries were encouraged to build on the Nairobi workshop (Cohort 1) by:

• Expanding and strengthening national teams of trainers, ensuring that the expertise developed at regional level is replicated and institutionalised within veterinary services.
• Cascading abattoir‑focused trainings to provincial, district and facility levels, so that frontline inspectors, veterinarians, and meat hygiene officers receive consistent, up‑to‑date skills across the entire slaughterhouse network.
• Improving slaughterhouse infrastructure, including basic inspection facilities, safe sample‑collection areas, cold‑chain capacity, and functional waste‑handling systems—elements that are essential for effective surveillance and safe meat production.
• Standardising reporting processes through the adoption of harmonised templates and data‑collection tools, guided by the WOAH Abattoir Surveillance and Reporting Manuals, to ensure that findings are captured accurately, timely, and in a format that allows meaningful national and regional analysis.
• Strengthening digital reporting pathways to ensure that data from abattoirs feeds into national surveillance systems and informs early warning, planning, and decision‑making.

By committing to these actions—and by mobilising the necessary financial and institutional support—countries can transform abattoirs into strategic, cost‑effective surveillance hubs, capable of detecting CBPP and a wide range of other priority diseases. Such investment not only advances animal health but also protects public health, strengthens the livestock sector, and supports resilient, high‑value meat supply chains across the region.