
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has released its first State of the World’s Animal Health report, highlighting the growing threat of infectious animal diseases to global food security, human health, and biodiversity.
The 2024 report shows animal diseases are reaching new regions and species, driven by climate change, trade, and gaps in prevention. Notably, avian influenza outbreaks in mammals more than doubled in the past year, with 1,022 outbreaks across 55 countries compared to 459 in 2023. Infections in mammals like cattle and cats raise the risk of virus adaptation for mammal-to-mammal or human transmission.
Other diseases are also shifting territory. Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) has re-emerged in Europe, while African swine fever (ASF) reached Sri Lanka, 1,800 km from the nearest outbreak.
Nearly half of WOAH-listed animal diseases between 2005–2023 pose zoonotic risks. The report stresses that many are preventable with vaccines, hygiene, and biosecurity, but access to vaccines remains uneven globally.
WOAH’s rabies and PPR vaccine banks have delivered millions of doses, yet rabies control efforts have declined, with just 62% of countries reporting active programs.
Antimicrobial resistance is another key concern. Antibiotic use in animals dropped 5% globally from 2020–2022, with the sharpest declines in Europe (23%) and Africa (20%). However, 20% of countries still use antimicrobials for growth promotion, contributing to rising drug resistance. Without intervention, AMR could cause major livestock losses and up to $100 trillion in global economic damage by 2050.
WOAH urges stronger veterinary services, better surveillance, and wider access to vaccines and diagnostics to prevent future disease crises.