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
24/7
2026
FAO High-Level Event | Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD)
Hybrid Event, 24/07/2026
The Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) represents a renewed global commitment to progressively prevent, prepare for and control transboundary animal diseases through stronger partnerships, coordinated action and sustained investment. Developed in response to requests from...
29/6
2026
From the last case to lasting legacy: 25 years without rinderpest and 15 years of global eradication
29/06/2026
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is organizing a special webinar marking two historic milestones in animal health: 15 years since the official declaration of global rinderpest eradication and 25 years...
Publications
Videos
Connecting surveillance and laboratory systems for faster animal health responses in Ghana
17/06/2026
As health threats become increasingly complex and interconnected, laboratories play a critical role in detecting risks, supporting diagnosis and...
Strengthening early warning and biosecurity in Ghana
17/07/2026
Through the voices of farmers, field officers, laboratory staff and technical experts in Ghana, this video shows how risks can now be identified in...
Rinderpest eradication
25/06/2026
Felix Njeumi, Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP) Secretary, highlights all the steps that lead to the eradication in June 2011 of the first...