MoCCAE Hosts Workshop to Enhance Biosecurity through Disease Spread Modeling

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) held a workshop in its headquarters under the theme, “Modelling the Spread of Animal and Common Diseases”, as part of its efforts to strengthen the biosecurity system, including protecting livestock from diseases, taking precautionary measures to protect animals from epidemics, improving veterinary health, promoting public health for consumers of animal products, and avoiding diseases that are common to humans and animals.

A two-day workshop was held with attendees including Dr. Mohammed Alyafei, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at UAE University, and Ibrahim Al Dhanhani, Director of Environmental Disaster Department at the MOCCAE. Over 50 officials, specialists, and stakeholders from various sectors also participated. The workshop, conducted by Professor Aaron Reeves, an expert in digital modeling and simulation of epidemics, diseases, and environmental disasters, aimed to address potential scenarios and was supported by experts from RTI International and UAE University, including Dr. Ehab Fath Al Rahman, Prof. Youssef El Khatib, Prof. Magdy Mahmoud, and Dr. Yassir El Tahir.

Ibrahim Al Dhanhani said,

“At the Ministry, we are keen to update our human resources on the latest experiences and scientific practices to strengthen national biosecurity at all levels. The workshop on ‘Modelling the Spread of Animal and Common Diseases’ reflects this approach, through which we aim to increase our animal wealth and care in accordance with the best international standards. The workshop also aims to improve knowledge about the concept of modelling and strengthen preparedness and prediction of potential and unexpected epidemics and environmental disasters.”

Dr. Alyafei also pointed out that the workshop further builds on the joint efforts between the Ministry and the University as part of a MoU between the two entities, in which many joint research projects have been conducted and published in prestigious scientific journals.

During the workshop, practical training and digital modelling were provided to represent the process of animal disease transmission (i.e. zoonotic diseases) between animals and humans, taking into account the interaction with humans. The workshop also introduced the concept of stochastic modelling, algorithms, potential scenarios and exploring the future to assist policy and decision makers in planning responses to low-probability, but high-impact disasters.

News Source: Emirates News Agency