The research paper "Assessing One Health Capacities for Transboundary Zoonotic Diseases at the Libya-Tunisia Border" examines the ability of Libya and Tunisia to jointly prevent, detect, monitor, and respond to zoonotic diseases that can spread across their shared border. Using the One Health Transboundary Assessment for Priority Zoonoses (OHTAPZ), the study maps existing human and animal health systems, communication channels, laboratory capacities, quarantine procedures, and cross-border coordination. It identifies important existing capacities but also significant gaps in routine information-sharing, joint surveillance, and coordinated outbreak response.
Key Insights
Libya and Tunisia jointly prioritized five major transboundary zoonotic threats: avian influenza, brucellosis, Rift Valley fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and rabies.
Both countries have systems for disease detection, laboratory confirmation, quarantine, and response, but capacities and procedures differ considerably between the two sides of the border.
Tunisia has more structured routine surveillance and coordination between public health and veterinary services at border crossings, while Libya lacks formal integrated surveillance protocols for several priority diseases at its points of entry.
Cross-border coordination is strongest for avian influenza, Rift Valley fever, and rabies, while communication related to brucellosis and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever remains limited.
Important gaps include insufficient specialized training for border officials, weak coordination on vector surveillance and control, and the absence of standardized procedures for joint outbreak investigations.
The study recommends establishing national multisectoral One Health committees and a joint Libya-Tunisia One Health Cross-Border Committee to improve routine information-sharing and coordination.
The authors also recommend jointly designating at least one land border crossing, preferably Ras Ajdir, under the International Health Regulations to strengthen preparedness and response capacities.
The OHTAPZ approach provides a practical model that could be adapted to strengthen One Health cooperation at other international border crossings.
