FAO's role in animal health
The link between human and animal populations, and the surrounding environment, is particularly close in developing regions where animals provide transportation, draught power, fuel, clothing, high-quality proteins (meat, eggs and milk) and source of income. Therefore, animal health is a core element for sustainable development and livestock production.
As changes in livestock production increase the potential for new pathogens to emerge, grow and spread from animals to humans, healthy animals are closely related to healthy people and a healthy environment. Through the One Health approach, FAO contributes to improving animal health to make livestock production more productive and sustainable while achieving optimal health for all at the human-animal-environment interface.
Areas of work
Stories
Events
26/3
2026
Global One Health Intelligence in action
26/03/2026
FAO, WHO and WOAH will host a virtual event on Thursday, 26 March 2026, from 13:00 to 14:30 CET, marking the official launch of the modernized Global Early Warning System (GLEWS+) platform and its new public website...
19/3
2026
Nipah virus infection in the Asia Pacific Region
19/03/2026
Join us for a Regional Quadripartite webinar on Nipah virus infection, a serious zoonotic disease that continues to threaten human, animal, and environmental health in Asia and the Pacific...
Publications
Videos
Assessing the impact of the ''Empowering Veterinary Paraprofessional Entrepreneurs" project - Uganda
20/02/2026
In Uganda, as in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, there are relatively few veterinarians, and public veterinary services necessarily focus on surveillance...
Update from FAO, WOAH and the OFFLU on latest initiatives for avian influenza prevention and control
13/02/2026
Avian influenza (AI) remains a major global challenge for poultry production, trade, wildlife, livelihoods and public health. The spread of AI into...
Beyond the manual: A holistic approach to biosecurity implementation through WABA, SOPs, information
04/02/2026
This series explores how biosecurity can be consistently and sustainably implemented across educational, institutional, and field settings, contributing...