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Cross-Border Alliance for Epidemiological Security: International PROTECT Conference in Kisvárda

11/12/2025

On December 9–10, 2025, project partners participated in an event organized by the Földkelte Association within the framework of the international project "PROTECT – Pandemic Response and Operational Tactics for Enhanced Containment and Tracking" (HUSKROUA/23/RI/2.1/011). The event took place in the conference hall of the Parish Bull Hotel in Kisvárda.

The PROTECT project aims to strengthen the preparedness of public health systems for infectious diseases, including zoonoses, by improving surveillance, containment, and cross-border cooperation. This initiative is aligned with the programme's strategic objective to promote regional cooperation in the fields of healthcare and biosafety.

The project is implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-A NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine 2021–2027 Programme, in partnership with the Planetrise Cultural and Environmental Association.

A multinational partner team from four countries ensures the success of the project:

The Kisvárda conference was a key milestone in deepening cooperation between scientific, veterinary, and administrative institutions, defining priorities for 2026, and aligning partner actions.

On the first day of the event, project partners held an internal coordination meeting, where participants discussed the current progress of the initiative, the fulfillment of obligations by each organization, and the interim results of specific tasks. Significant attention was paid to aligning the project calendar, reporting forms, technical requirements, and preparing for the next phases of implementation, including training sessions, research, study tours, and the development of methodological and information materials. Partners focused particularly on the technical aspects of transparent coordination, effective risk management, and the development of the Guidelines and Common Action Plan.

The second day of the event began with participant registration and a professional session, where partners presented detailed reports on the main areas of project implementation. Participants presented the primary goals and objectives of the PROTECT initiative, shared the experiences of participating countries in responding to zoonoses and pandemics, and highlighted the challenges faced by the teams during the first phase of implementation. Significant attention was given to the interim results of ongoing research, community outreach, and the analysis of the spread of rabies and other infections in the cross-border region. The status and modernization of laboratory infrastructure were discussed separately, along with the rapid diagnostic capacity of veterinary services, which is critical for establishing an effective system for early detection and response to infectious threats.

In the second thematic session, participants held a substantive discussion on the major challenges arising during the cross-border implementation of the PROTECT project. Partners emphasized the need to harmonize procedures between participating countries, as differences in veterinary legislation and diagnostic methods complicate the coordination of measures and the establishment of common standards. Special attention was paid to inter-agency cooperation regarding the active migration of wildlife, which directly impacts the epidemiological situation in border regions.

Conference participants showed particular interest in the report by Natalia Korol, an expert involved in developing the content and structure of the PROTECT Project Guidelines and Common Action Plan. In her presentation, she outlined the concept for the response guidelines and the common action plan, which will serve as the foundation for unified cross-border procedures, standards, and recommendations.

Digital Information Exchange

Natalia also presented the initial development results of the PROTECT project's web platform, which will serve as the central digital tool for information exchange, the publication of professional materials, and analytical resources. She highlighted that to achieve full functionality, it is essential to finalize the unified database that provides the stable foundation for decision-support processes.

Innovative Digital Solutions in Epidemiological Monitoring

The concept for developing interactive maps and digital mapping of territories was proposed by Dávid Hegedűs, a former volunteer and current IT cooperation partner of the Planetrise Association. The proposed development direction is built on two closely linked pillars:

  • Public Detection and Reporting Module: Based on Dávid's proposal, the system will include a publicly updatable interface where the general public can directly report suspected infections (e.g., sightings of infected wild animals). This function ensures the rapid flow of field information and the continuous update of mapping data.

  • Technical Integration Between Partners: The implementation of this initiative relies on close cooperation between the IT teams of all project partners. This coordinated effort allows for the synchronization of different national databases, the integration of geo-information modules, and the visual representation of the cross-border spread of zoonoses.

Together, these elements form a modern and reliable decision-support system that, thanks to partner cooperation, becomes crucial in guaranteeing the veterinary and public health security of the region. Participants emphasized the importance of developing digital tools for early warning, monitoring, and rapid data exchange between laboratories, veterinary services, hunting organizations, and local administrations—a prerequisite for effective risk management and rapid response to zoonotic outbreaks.

Further details regarding the project can be found on the partners' official social media platforms.

Planetrise Cultural and Environmental Association