One Health POE Checklist for Transboundary Zoonotic Disease Preparedness

The One Health Point of Entry (POE) Checklist is a novel assessment tool developed to evaluate the multisectoral capacities of land border crossings and international airports in response to transboundary zoonotic disease (TZD) threats. Rooted in the One Health (OH) framework, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health sectors, the Checklist is designed to assess preparedness and operational readiness at POEs—critical junctures for trade, travel, and biosecurity.

Developed through a collaborative process involving stakeholders from Iraq and Jordan, the Checklist is structured around the Prevent, Detect, Respond, and Evaluate framework. It draws from international guidance documents and includes 95–109 practitioner-focused questions depending on the POE type (land or air). These questions address topics ranging from personal protective equipment and zoonotic disease surveillance to cross-border communication and response planning. The checklist comes in two versions: the first for land border crossings, and the second developed international airports in mind.

The Checklist offers a standardized, evidence-based approach for governments to assess and strengthen OH capacities at borders, complement existing global health security tools, and inform national-level decision-making for improved biosurveillance and emergency response.