Exercise CARAVAN – Central Asia functional simulation exercise to strengthen cross-border coordination and communication for emerging zoonotic threats

Event highlights

On 9 September 2026, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, under the Pandemic Fund-supported multicountry project on pandemic preparedness and response through the One Health approach in Central Asia, conducted Exercise CARAVAN 2026, a subregional One Health functional simulation exercise bringing together representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The exercise tested multisectoral coordination, cross-border communication and information sharing during a simulated emerging zoonotic disease event with regional implications. Participants from the human health, animal health and environmental sectors worked together throughout the exercise to assess evolving information, coordinate national response action and exchange information with neighbouring countries and WHO.

Event notice

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases continue to pose a significant threat to public health, livelihoods and economic stability worldwide. More than 60% of emerging infectious diseases that are reported globally come from animals, both wild and domestic, highlighting the importance of effective collaboration across human health, animal health and environmental sectors. Recent outbreaks have demonstrated that zoonotic diseases can spread rapidly across borders, requiring timely information-sharing, joint risk assessment and coordinated response efforts among multiple sectors and countries.

Central Asia is characterized by extensive cross-border movement of people, animals and goods, as well as shared ecosystems and natural resources. These factors create opportunities for the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases and other health threats that may affect multiple countries simultaneously. Strengthening collaboration and coordination among relevant sectors is therefore essential for the effective prevention and detection of and response to public health events at the human-animal-environment interface.

Exercise CARAVAN 2026 is organized under the Pandemic Fund-supported multicountry project and will provide a platform for countries in Central Asia to test and strengthen cross-border coordination, communication and information-sharing mechanisms for the management of emerging zoonotic threats. Through a realistic and evolving scenario, the exercise will support participating countries in enhancing operational readiness and advancing the implementation of the One Health approach. 

Its objectives are to:

1. assess the effectiveness of multisectoral coordination for the management of zoonotic disease events;
2. test how human health, animal health, environmental, emergency management and other relevant sectors collaborate, share information and coordinate decision-making in response to an evolving zoonotic threat;
3. test national and cross-border information-sharing and communication processes during a public health event with regional implications;
4. test the ability of participating countries to exchange timely and accurate information with relevant national authorities, neighbouring countries and international partners using established communication channels and procedures; and
5. review the application of national procedures for risk assessment, response and decision-making during an emerging zoonotic disease event.

The geographic scope includes countries in Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.