The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) released its first-ever “State of the World’s Animal Health” report.
- Warned of increasing infectious disease outbreaks (e.g., African Swine Fever, avian influenza, Lumpy Skin Disease) threatening global agrifood system stability.
Key Concerns Raised by the Report
- High Zoonotic Risk:
- 47% of animal diseases reported are zoonotic—transmissible from animals to humans.
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):
- Without intervention, AMR could affect 2 billion people and cause $100 trillion in economic losses by 2050.
- Increasing Cross-Species Transmission:
- Diseases like avian influenza are increasingly infecting non-traditional species.
- Outbreaks in mammals have doubled, posing greater health threats.
- Drivers of Zoonotic Spread:
- Climate change: Alters ecosystems, enabling pathogen spread to new species and regions.
- Global trade and animal movement: Increase transboundary disease risks.
- Human-wildlife interaction: Rising encroachment leads to more spillover events.
- Weak veterinary systems: Inadequate surveillance and vaccine access in developing nations worsen vulnerability.
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)?
- Establishment:
- Founded in 1924 as Office International des Epizooties (OIE).
- Renamed WOAH; headquartered in Paris, France.
- Origin: Response to global rinderpest outbreak.
- Membership & Governance:
- 183 member countries, including India.
- Governed by the World Assembly of Delegates—each country has one vote.
- Annual meetings held in Paris.
- Standards and Guidelines:
- Maintains key documents to ensure animal health and safety:
- Terrestrial Animal Health Code and its manual (for mammals, birds, reptiles, bees).
- Aquatic Animal Health Code and manual (for fish, amphibians, molluscs, crustaceans).
- Maintains key documents to ensure animal health and safety:
- WOAH and WTO:
- Recognized by WTO under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement as the international authority on animal health standards.
- Member countries are encouraged to base trade regulations on WOAH standards to ensure global harmonization and safe trade.
The State of the World’s Animal Health Report underscores the urgent need for global action against zoonotic diseases, AMR, and rising health threats due to climate change and globalization.
