Animal health

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
stories
The Screwworm menace affecting animals and threatening humans in Senegal
Events

24/7

2026

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

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
FAO Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases
07/2026

The FAO GPP-TAD is a strategic mechanism designed to address the growing and interconnected threats posed by transboundary animal diseases (TADs) to...

One Health and forest invasive species: A position paper
07/2026

Forest invasive species are one of the five key direct drivers of biodiversity loss, with cascading effects across the health of humans, domestic and...

Rapid economic impact assessment of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype SAT1 spread in Asia and the Pacific. Implications for preparedness, prioritization and investment
07/2026

Following the detection of FMD serotype SAT1 in China in March 2026, FAO has conducted a rapid economic assessment of potential consequences for Asia...

Rwanda: Evaluation for action. Assessing animal disease surveillance capacities, 29 July to 9 August 2024
07/2026

This report provides detailed SET outputs and recommendations validated by the Rwanda Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) with guidance for the veterinary...

Manual on feed risk assessment
07/2026

This manual provides a clear and concise description of the risk assessment process when animals are exposed to a hazard in feed and offers practical...

FAO Alert on avian influenza – Risk of upsurge and regional spread through wild birds in Latin America and the Caribbean
06/2026

FAO warns of a renewed risk of upsurge and regional spread of H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since...

Global control of African swine fever - A GF-TADs initiative 2026–2030
06/2026

African swine fever remains one of the most serious threats to pig production, livelihoods, food security, and safe trade. ASF has spread across Africa,...

The future of antimicrobial use in livestock – The economic cost of action or inaction
06/2026

This report shows that rising antimicrobial use is not an unavoidable consequence of growing demand for animal source foods. With coherent policies,...

Joint PPR Roadmap for the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Region and the FMD Roadmap Meetingfor the West Eurasia (WEA) Region - Meeting report
06/2026

The publication addresses the needs of veterinary authorities, technical experts, and policy-makers by offering actionable recommendations, benchmarking...

Mainstreaming the eradication of peste des petits ruminants into national development plans
05/2026

The guidelines explore the steps involved in mainstreaming PPR eradication issues into national development planning processes, namely the appointment...

Global control of African swine fever - A GF-TADs initiative (2020-2025)
05/2026

African swine fever remains one of the most serious threats to pig production, livelihoods, food security, and safe trade. ASF has spread across Africa,...

Updated joint FAO/WHO/WOAH public health assessment of recent high pathogenicity avian influenza A(H5) virus events in animals and people. Assessment based on data as of 1 March 2026
05/2026

This risk assessment from FAO, WHO and WOAH updates the assessment of the risk of zoonotic transmission (for example, animal to human) considering additional...

Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Southern Africa - Emerging trends and regional implications
05/2026

This edition of EMPRES Watch presents an evidence‑based overview of the escalating foot‑and‑mouth disease (FMD) situation in southern Africa, where...

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...