Tegucigalpa, 13 August 2025 (PAHO/WHO) – Within the framework of the project "Honduras prepared and alert to potential pandemic events with One Health approach", funded by the Pandemic Fund and implemented by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and UNICEF, the Ministry of Health successfully carried out the Intersectoral Risk Evaluation (EVIR) Workshop from 12 to 14 August, bringing together professionals from the human health, animal health, and environmental sectors.
This technical and participatory space highlights the country’s commitment to strengthening preparedness for health emergencies of zoonotic origin, particularly those with pandemic potential. The three-day workshop was organized by the Ministry of Health with the coordination of the PAHO/WHO Country Office in Honduras and the technical support of the Infectious Hazard Management Unit of the Health Emergencies Department and PANAFTOSA. During the event, national authorities and epidemiologists from the three sectors worked jointly to identify risks, map critical transmission points, define institutional roles, and establish mechanisms for coordinated response.
The activity will help strengthen integrated surveillance, improve intersectoral coordination, and build a shared vision of health risks, in line with the One Health approach. The active participation of the three sectors reaffirms the country’s institutional commitment to health security and collaborative governance.
The workshop took place in a regional context marked by the increase of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks. Although Honduras has not reported human cases, the detection of outbreaks in wild and backyard birds underscores the urgency of strengthening national surveillance, prevention, and response capacities.
Thanks to the support of the Honduras prepared and alert to potential pandemic events with One Health approach, the country is advancing the consolidation of functional structures, institutional leadership, and intersectoral communication—key elements for an effective response to public health events of international concern.
This joint effort represents a significant step toward a more integrated, robust, and effective national response to future health threats. Honduras is preparing to face emergency scenarios with a strategic, technical, and collaborative vision.
Find out more about the Pandemic Fund projects implemented by PAHO here.
