Dr. Eleonora Uber has joined the Sub-Regional Representation for North Africa in Tunis, Tunisia, as a Programme Officer, seconded by her home institute, the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale (IZS) of Teramo. An Italian national, Eleonora graduated with honours from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bologna. Prior to joining WOAH, her professional background was centred on research, with a particular focus on human and animal movement.
Her first research role, carried out in collaboration with the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the University of Bologna and Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Italy (VSF Italia), examined human and animal migration along the Balkan route, assessing the presence of animals in migrant camps and their potential epidemiological role (particularly in relation to zoonoses and transboundary animal diseases (TADs)), as well as psychological significance for migrants.
The research highlighted a gap between policy frameworks and the actual presence of animals on the ground, pointing to the need for a One Health approach in migration contexts as well. Working with the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Perugia, she went on to contribute to both the research and operational dimensions of zoonotic disease control among nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralist communities in Karamoja, Uganda. In addition to diagnostics and prophylaxis for brucellosis and the major tick-borne diseases affecting livestock, the research used participatory epidemiology methods to investigate the socio-cultural factors influencing the effectiveness of surveillance and notification systems.
Eleonora Uber can be reached at [email protected]
