North American Countries Launch Pandemic Preparedness Initiative
The governments of Canada, the United States, and Mexico have jointly announced the North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative (NAPAHPI). This initiative aims to enhance regional health security by addressing public health threats collaboratively. NAPAHPI is a response to commitments made during the North American Leaders' Summits in 2021 and 2023.
The initiative involves several key areas of collaboration, including:
- Animal diseases with zoonotic potential
- Epidemiological surveillance and laboratory diagnostics
- Medical countermeasures
- Public health measures
- Medical supply chains
- Health systems
- Risk communications
- Border health measures
- Critical infrastructure
- Risk assessment and foresight risk analyses
- Joint exercises and training
- Sustainable financing
NAPAHPI replaces previous plans from 2007 and 2012 related to avian and pandemic influenza. It builds on past collaborations and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other health events. The initiative is governed by a Senior Coordinating Body and a Health Security Working Group, which include members from various sectors such as human health, animal health/agriculture, security, and foreign affairs.
The principal agencies involved in NAPAHPI are:
- Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Public Safety Canada, and Global Affairs Canada.
- United States: Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State.
- Mexico: Secretariat of Health, Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, and Secretariat of Foreign Affairs.