CARPHA Opens Third ‘One Health Workshop’ On Foodborne Diseases And Zoonoses

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) officially opened its third One Health Multidisciplinary Workshop to Promote Integrated Surveillance for Foodborne Diseases and Zoonoses on 11 November 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. The two-day workshop, being held from 11 to 12 November 2026, brings together 100 participants, including representatives from 14 CARPHA Member States (CMS) and 14 regional and international partner agencies, to advance the implementation of integrated surveillance systems for foodborne diseases and zoonoses across the Caribbean.

Building on the achievements of the 2024 and 2025 workshops, this year’s meeting focuses on the practical implementation and long-term sustainability of integrated One Health surveillance systems, with particular emphasis on strengthening surveillance data integration, information sharing and multisectoral capacities to detect, investigate and respond to foodborne and zoonotic disease threats. The workshop is supported through CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project, which aims to strengthen regional and national capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

A central focus of this year’s workshop is the demonstration of CARPHA’s digital Regional Integrated Early Warning and Surveillance System (RIEWSS), particularly its Foodborne Diseases and Zoonoses (One Health) Surveillance Module. The module integrates human, animal, laboratory and environmental health surveillance data to support earlier detection of unusual disease patterns, improved event verification, information sharing and coordinated public health responses.