The MediPIET project has just started the first part of the 6th Module of the regional Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) about Zoonotic and Vector borne diseases. A second part of the module on Introduction to Geographical Information System (GIS) is scheduled late January 2021. For this module MediPIET has joint efforts with MediLAB Secure to mobilize a multidisciplinary team from academia (Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona, LSHTM), research institutions (IRD France, INIA Spain), public health agencies (Armenia, Egypt, Palestine, Serbia) and international organizations (ECDC, WHO/PANAFTOSA) so we can learn from each other how to tackle together zoonotic diseases.

A female, Aedes aegypti mosquito obtaining a blood meal from a human host. Original image sourced from US Government department: Public Health Image Library, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Under US law this image is copyright free, please credit the government department whenever you can”.
Aedes aegypti

The zoonoses causes about 700.000 deaths per year and half of them can be vector-borne diseases.  During this COVID-19 period all the MediPIET modules have been transformed into On-line modules.

This training course started online at the Virtual Campus of Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain on October 19th and will finish 30th October.. The teaching methods includes 20 hours with experts from different backgrounds and international institutions. The module includes 12 hours of videos, the WHO online course ONE HEALTH “Basics of multisectoral collaboration at the Human – Animal – Environment interface”, one Practical session using the case study West Nile virus outbreak in Serbia, 2013 and recommended readings in English.

A total of 27 participants from 17 countries, including the 15 fellows of the Third MediPIET Cohort, are attending the module.

The objective of this first part of this training course is to improve participants’ knowledge about zoonotic and vector-borne diseases and following a One Health approach. One Health is the idea that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. “When we protect one, we help protect all”.

The Intended learning objectives are:

  • Refresh knowledge of epidemiology of zoonotic and vector borne diseases (VBD);
  • Recognize all dimensions of the One Health approach, especially application for antimicrobial resistance surveillance;
  • Understand the specificity of zoonotic and VBD outbreak investigations, and become familiar with methods complementary to epi investigations;
  • Gain knowledge in integrated surveillance (human, animal and vector) and also in vector surveillance activities;
  • Become familiar with VBD risk assessment tools and VBD preparedness principles.