World Organisation for Animal Health

Animal health is a public good.

And yet, we don't fund it like one. Just US$ 2.3 billion a year could help bring veterinary services worldwide up to standard and strengthen our defences against future pandemics. That is less than 0.05% of the cost of COVID-19 in one year alone.

So, why do we continue to ignore animal health when it directly impacts our survival? This and more about how to bridge this gap, in the latest State of the World's Animal Health report: https://www.woah.org/en/the-state-of-the-worlds-animal-health/

How is the state of the world's animal health?

The second edition of the State of the World's Animal Health report paints a bleaker picture than the one we documented last year.

More than 2,000 outbreaks of avian influenza were reported by 64 countries and territories between 2025 and 2026, resulting in the culling or loss of more than 140 million poultry. Foot and mouth disease has caused unprecedented outbreaks in Southern Africa and re-emerged in Europe. African swine fever continues to spread, including through notable long-distance jumps. And the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasitic fly, is alsoraising serious concern, with tens of thousands of cases reported across Central America and a northward spread that poses a threat to animal health beyond the countries currently affected.

Despite the monumental and cascading effect that disease has, animal health only receives a meagre 0.6% of health spending. Animal health is a public good and yet we don't fund it like one. At a moment when governments are increasing defence budgets it is worth asking what animal health actually means in this context.

Take a look at more such insights including the latest animal health trends, perspectives and stories from across the world in the latest State of the Animal Health 2026 report.

Out now: https://www.woah.org/en/animal-health-receives-as-little-as-0-6-percent-of-global-health-spending-despite-mounting-disease-crises-new-report-warns/

The number of animal disease outbreaks matters.
The increase in antimicrobial use in animals matters.
The number of countries with emergency plans for animal disease matters.

Stay tuned for the release of the State of the World's Animal Health 2026 report. Tomorrow.

We are monitoring reports of cases, in collaboration with WHO and other partners, to support a coordinated and evidence-based response.

Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it originates in animals, primarily rodents, before crossing into human populations.

The current situation serves as an important reminder of the value of sustained surveillance and early detection, particularly at the animal–human–environment interface. Strengthening our ability to detect and monitor diseases in animal populations is a fundamental component of prevention. Read our statement here: https://www.woah.org/en/woah-statement-on-hantavirus/

Are climatic events altering the way disease spreads in sheep?

Climate change is fundamentally altering how diseases spread, acting as a major multiplier for both human and animal health threats. Rising temperatures and extreme weather are forcing pathogens and vectors, like mosquitoes and ticks, into new, temperate regions.

Over a ten-year period, researchers in Northern Ireland monitored parasite infections in sheep and began to notice clear shifts that could not be explained by farming practices alone.Warmer temperatures and milder winters were allowing parasites to survive longer and develop faster. As a result, infections were appearing earlier in the year and lasting longer into the grazing season. There was also an increase in the overall abundance of certain parasites, particularly gastrointestinal worms such as Teladorsagia and Trichostrongylus. These parasites affect digestion, weight gain and overall animal health, leading to productivity losses.

This is one of the many examples of climatic events and their impact on animal health. What this means in practice is that farmers are facing less predictable disease cycles, making it harder to control infections and increasing the need for more adaptive management strategies with different disciplines, especially with the help of ecologists.

Animal health is being left behind in spite of its growing importance.

Despite the importance of animal health, investments in the sector remains systematically under-prioritised in both public budgets and global funding agendas.

This creates a stark paradox: even as the animal health sector generates enormous economic opportunity and carries significant global risk, investment remains scarce.