WOAH calls for $2.3bn boost in funding to combat rising animal health threats

The World Organisation for Animal Health urges urgent financial support to enhance disease surveillance, amid warnings that underfunding endangers food security, economic stability, and human health.

The World Organisation for Animal Health is calling for a sharp increase in funding for disease prevention systems, arguing that the annual global bill needs to rise by about $2.3bn to improve surveillance and align countries with international standards, according to remarks by its director general, Emmanuelle Soubeyran, reported by the Financial Times.

The appeal comes as WOAH’s first global assessment warns that animal health remains badly underfunded despite its central role in food security, economic stability and human health. The organisation says animal diseases account for losses of more than 20% of global animal production each year, or about $300bn, while animal health receives as little as 0.6% of overall health spending.

WOAH is also helping governments expand vaccination against avian influenza, which has spread widely among wild and domestic birds. Over the past year, the virus and culling have eliminated more than 160 million chickens in 64 countries, contributing to higher egg prices in the United States and disruption across poultry supply chains.

The report argues that the gap between crisis response and prevention is widening as development assistance for health declines. WOAH says stronger veterinary systems are now essential not only to protect livestock, but also to reduce risks from emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance and other cross-border threats.