Bridging Veterinary and Medical Expertise to Combat a Deadly Zoonotic Threat

📍 UOD Convention Center | 🗓️ May 18, 2025 – University Press Office (UNPO) | In response to the recent re-emergence of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) cases across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region—particularly since 2023—the University of Duhok (UOD) with the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, and Medicine organized a scientific symposium aimed at raising public awareness, strengthening institutional preparedness, and developing actionable recommendations to mitigate the risks of this deadly zoonotic disease. This event which was under the theme: "A One Health Approach to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever: Integrating Veterinary and Medical Perspectives", was attended by UOD President and officials, deans, faculty and students, as well as public figures such as the General Director of Health in the Duhok Governorate, and officials from the health sector and beyond. The event marked a proactive step in addressing the growing threat of CCHF through interdisciplinary dialogue and community engagement.

🎤 Opening Remarks: Strategic Health Leadership

The symposium was inaugurated with opening addresses by:

• Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi, President of the University of Duhok
   
• Mr. Majid Said Salih, Deputy Governor of Duhok
   
• Dr. Mohammed Shukri Shukur, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at UOD
   

Each speaker emphasized the need for proactive, science-based responses to CCHF. Dr. Atrushi highlighted the university’s responsibility in advancing health education and regional disease prevention. He further highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between different medical sectors to  combat epidemics facing our region. The Deputy Governor reiterated the government's readiness to support integrated health strategies, while Dr. Shukur called for greater public awareness and cross-sector coordination. He mentioned that the first  frontline for zoonotic diseases is the veterinary sector, then comes the turn of medical doctors to save human beings.  

🧑‍⚕️ Interdisciplinary Presentations

Two technical presentations followed:

• Dr. Jivan Qasim Ahmed (Veterinary Medicine) detailed the animal transmission cycle, highlighting tick vectors and livestock management.
   
• Dr. Ramadhan Salahaddin (College of Medicine) discussed the clinical manifestations of CCHF in humans and called for improved diagnostic and reporting protocols across medical institutions.
   

🧩 Expert Panel Discussion: One Health in Action

A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Rejeen Fatah Abdulrahman addressed policy and practice solutions for CCHF control using the One Health model.

Panelists included:

• Dr. Sagvan Hassan Ali, Head of Communicable Disease Control, Directorate of Preventive Health Affairs – Duhok
   
• Dr. Ary Habeeb Mohammed, Specialist in Community Medicine, College of Medicine – UOD
   
• Mala Dilshad Tahir Ibrahim, Representative of the Directorate of Endowments – Duhok
   
• Dr. Ahmed Khalil Muhammed, Representative of the Directorate of Veterinary Medicine – Duhok
   
• Dr. Nawzat Abozaid Issa, Assistant Professor of Internal Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine – UOD
   

Topics addressed included field-based surveillance, interdepartmental data sharing, public health education via religious and community leaders, and veterinary diagnostic infrastructure.

The discussion emphasized how integrating veterinary, medical, and cultural institutions under a unified strategy can dramatically enhance response capacity to zoonotic threats.

🧭 Key Recommendations and Takeaways

The symposium concluded with a high-level panel discussion that generated a set of vital recommendations aimed at protecting public health and strengthening institutional response capacities to CCHF and similar zoonotic threats. The panelists emphasized the following action points:

• Public Awareness Campaigns: Dr. Ary Habib Mohammed called for increased community awareness through coordinated efforts between media, healthcare providers, and academic institutions. He stressed the need for accurate, science-based messaging to combat misinformation.
   
• Safe Meat Consumption Practices: Dr. Ary clarified that thoroughly cooking meat at 120°C or above neutralizes viral threats, making it safe for consumption. However, freezing meat does not kill the virus, a misconception that must be addressed publicly. 
• Using personal care tools, such as gloves while dealing with raw meat.
   
• Tick Control on Livestock: Dr. Ahmed Khalil Mohammed emphasized the importance of chemical treatment to eliminate ticks on surrounding plants, helping to prevent disease transmission.
   
• Isolation and Infection Control: Dr. Sagvan Hassan Ali underscored the critical need to isolate infected patients and their tools, protecting both the public and medical personnel from cross-contamination.
   
• Adapting Religious Practices for Public Health: Mala Dilshad Tahir from the Endowment Directorate advocated for contextual flexibility in Islamic fatwas to support safer sacrificial practices (Adhhiya) during Eid, especially under public health emergencies.
   
• Strengthening Laboratory Capacity: Dr. Sagvan also recommended establishing national-level laboratories to accelerate testing and diagnosis, reducing reliance on central labs in Baghdad and ensuring a faster response.
   
• Proposal to Establish a Zoonotic Disease Center: The panel jointly called for the creation of a dedicated center for transforming infectious diseases in the Kurdistan Region, which would facilitate early detection, cross-sector collaboration, and targeted interventions.
   

These recommendations reflect the collaborative spirit of the symposium and offer a roadmap for preventing outbreaks, improving preparedness, and enhancing public safety through a One Health approach that bridges veterinary, medical, and religious sectors.

🧭 Strategic Alignment with UOD Vision 2023–2038

This symposium reflects UOD’s strategic pillars:
✅ Advancing regional public health research
✅ Strengthening interdisciplinary and intersectoral cooperation
✅ Promoting student and faculty engagement in crisis-relevant fields
✅ Supporting One Health integration in academic programming
✅ Enhancing preparedness and scientific leadership in the Kurdistan Region 

CLICK TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THE EVENT 

📢 University Press Office | May 18, 2025
📝 Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali
📸 Photography by: Mohammed Abdulkareem Tahir 

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