The Rapid Deployment Expert Group on Health (SEEG)
Outbreaks of infectious diseases occur regularly around the world – often with far-reaching health, social, and economic consequences. Delayed or inadequate outbreak management can make containment considerably more difficult. It is therefore essential to strengthen global health systems and support professionals in identifying threats at an early stage and combating them effectively.
Against this backdrop, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) established the Rapid Deployment Health Expert Group (SEEG) in 2015 – partly in response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Since then, the SEEG has carried out a large number of missions in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It is coordinated by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and works on behalf of the BMZ, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMLEH).
Contribution of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI)
The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut has been part of the SEEG since 2021 and has since played a key role in strengthening the One Health approach within the expert group. Through its role as the federal research institute for animal health, the FLI contributes unique expertise on animal diseases, zoonotic pathogens, and veterinary diagnostics.
The FLI's experts support partner countries in the following areas in particular:
- Strengthening veterinary laboratory capacities and diagnostics for zoonotic pathogens
- Risk assessment and advice on outbreaks in the human-animal-environment contact zone
- Biosafety, sampling, and laboratory practices for animal diseases and zoonoses
- Promoting intersectoral cooperation in the spirit of One Health with a focus on human and veterinary medicine
- Monitoring and containment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animal health
The FLI is particularly sought after for missions involving zoonotic pathogens. Examples of this include missions relating to:
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
- Anthrax
- Rabies
FLI experts work closely with local partners to assess existing capacities, identify needs, and jointly develop sustainable solutions for the components of effective outbreak management in the local context.
Objective
The aim of SEEG missions is to support partner countries with acute needs in detecting outbreaks of infection at an early stage, diagnosing them adequately, and containing them effectively – before local events can develop into epidemics or pandemics. The FLI makes an important contribution to this through its expertise in animal health, zoonosis research, and One Health networking.
SEEG partners
- German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ)
- Robert Koch Institut (RKI)
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)
- Charité – Berlin
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI)
At the FLI, participation in the SEEG is coordinated by the Institute for International Animal Health/One Health (IITG).
Further information on the SEEG can be found on the GIZ website.
https://www.giz.de/en/expertise/social-development/health