A five-day training course on the prevention, diagnosis and control of echinococcosis was held in Ashgabat for specialists from Turkmenistan’s public health and epidemiological and veterinary services. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan.

The training was organised by the World Health Organisation’s country office and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations as part of a Pandemic Fund. The sessions were delivered by international FAO experts to staff from the ministries of health and agriculture.

Participants studied the epidemiology of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis, practised laboratory diagnostic methods and discussed inter-ministerial cooperation.

It is planned to use the knowledge gained to improve national programmes for the prevention of zoonotic diseases, employing a comprehensive approach.