The Animal Echo is WOAH’s knowledge-sharing space designed to foster dialogue on the global challenges facing society today, through the lens of animal health. It publishes information, research findings and insights into the state and impact of animal health and welfare across the world.
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
01/28/26
10min read
Under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, biosecurity is defined as the ‘protection, control, and accountability measures implemented to prevent the loss, theft, misuse, diversion or intentional release of biological agents and toxins, and related resources as well as unauthorised access to, retention, or transfer of such materials’
Lijun Shang
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
12/19/25
12min read
The United Kingdom is developing the United Kingdom Microbial Forensics Consortium (UKMFC), an innovative capability in microbial forensics with a One Health focus – including strengthening animal health systems. This consortium will help provide a robust defence from emerging infectious diseases and acts of bioterrorism. In this article, the authors summarise their model and seek to provide insights into the lessons learned as they develop this capability.
Simon A. Weller
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
11/28/25
9min read
Successful collaboration between the BWC and animal health communities requires shared understanding of these risks and priorities. Veterinary professionals are often the first to detect, report and investigate suspicious animal disease outbreaks at regional or national levels, making their engagement essential. BWC States Parties are encouraged to submit annual confidence-building measures (CBMs) on national biological activities, some of which relate directly to animal health
Sam Pritchard
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
11/24/25
8min read
Global health security is increasingly threatened by practices that compromise the integrity of food safety, public health and veterinary standards. One such practice, often overlooked yet deeply consequential, is the consumption and commercial resale of animals that died naturally without bloodletting, particularly poultry.
Comfort John
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
10/28/25
9min read
This article explores two emerging pathways: animal waste surveillance and underrepresented threats of wildmeat value chains. Studies led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) demonstrate how abattoir waste can serve as low-cost, scalable surveillance tools, generating early warning for zoonotic threats and antimicrobial resistance. Leveraging tools such as genomics, the case study on RVF shows how genomic and ecological monitoring in livestock reveal patterns that allow preventive action before outbreaks escalate.
Ekta Patel
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
01/28/26
10min read
Under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, biosecurity is defined as the ‘protection, control, and accountability measures implemented to prevent the loss, theft, misuse, diversion or intentional release of biological agents and toxins, and related resources as well as unauthorised access to, retention, or transfer of such materials’
Lijun Shang
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
12/19/25
12min read
The United Kingdom is developing the United Kingdom Microbial Forensics Consortium (UKMFC), an innovative capability in microbial forensics with a One Health focus – including strengthening animal health systems. This consortium will help provide a robust defence from emerging infectious diseases and acts of bioterrorism. In this article, the authors summarise their model and seek to provide insights into the lessons learned as they develop this capability.
Simon A. Weller
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
11/28/25
9min read
Successful collaboration between the BWC and animal health communities requires shared understanding of these risks and priorities. Veterinary professionals are often the first to detect, report and investigate suspicious animal disease outbreaks at regional or national levels, making their engagement essential. BWC States Parties are encouraged to submit annual confidence-building measures (CBMs) on national biological activities, some of which relate directly to animal health
Sam Pritchard
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
11/24/25
8min read
Global health security is increasingly threatened by practices that compromise the integrity of food safety, public health and veterinary standards. One such practice, often overlooked yet deeply consequential, is the consumption and commercial resale of animals that died naturally without bloodletting, particularly poultry.
Comfort John
Sci-Tech
Global Health Security
10/28/25
9min read
This article explores two emerging pathways: animal waste surveillance and underrepresented threats of wildmeat value chains. Studies led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) demonstrate how abattoir waste can serve as low-cost, scalable surveillance tools, generating early warning for zoonotic threats and antimicrobial resistance. Leveraging tools such as genomics, the case study on RVF shows how genomic and ecological monitoring in livestock reveal patterns that allow preventive action before outbreaks escalate.
Ekta Patel
Sci-Tech
Artificial Intelligence
09/03/25
13min read
Jennifer Lasley
Sci-Tech
Artificial Intelligence
09/03/25
10min read
Natalja Lambergeon
Blogpost
Artificial Intelligence
08/07/25
5min read
AI is reshaping aquaculture but it’s no one-size-fits-all fix. With its promise comes a need for reflection. Discover more.
Dr. Md. Tanvir Rahman
Sci-Tech
Artificial Intelligence
07/30/25
10min read
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) plays a critical role in collecting, managing and disseminating extensive animal health data. To manage this data, the Organisation is pioneering the Data Architecture Project (DAP), which will establish a central data repository, enabling integration and connectivity across all WOAH datasets.
Amy Hammond
Sci-Tech
Artificial Intelligence
07/29/25
9min read
Smallholder livestock systems face increasing challenges due to climate variability, particularly heat stress, which impacts animal health, welfare and productivity. Traditional productivity measurements, such as milk yield or growth rate, are labour-intensive, costly and fail to capture an animal’s overall adaptability. In response, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are pioneering a novel phenotyping approach using low-cost sensors, video analysis and artificial intelligence (AI).
Stephen Kemp
Blogpost
Artificial Intelligence
07/04/25
7min read
What if your barn could spot an illness before you do? AI is quietly transforming how we care for animals. Discover how.
Santiago Alonso Sousa
Sci-Tech
Artificial Intelligence
07/02/25
13min read
Four experts reveal how AI is transforming disease surveillance and veterinary practice In a remote region of California, a wildlife rehabilitation centre uploads routine clinical notes about an injured eagle showing signs of neurological symptoms. Within hours, an AI system flags this case alongside similar reports from across the State, detecting an unusual pattern that might signal an emerging disease outbreak—weeks before traditional surveillance methods would notice.
Claude AI
Sci-Tech
Artificial Intelligence
07/30/25
10min read
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) plays a critical role in collecting, managing and disseminating extensive animal health data. To manage this data, the Organisation is pioneering the Data Architecture Project (DAP), which will establish a central data repository, enabling integration and connectivity across all WOAH datasets.
Amy Hammond
Sci-Tech
Artificial Intelligence
07/29/25
9min read
Smallholder livestock systems face increasing challenges due to climate variability, particularly heat stress, which impacts animal health, welfare and productivity. Traditional productivity measurements, such as milk yield or growth rate, are labour-intensive, costly and fail to capture an animal’s overall adaptability. In response, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are pioneering a novel phenotyping approach using low-cost sensors, video analysis and artificial intelligence (AI).
Stephen Kemp
Sci-Tech
Artificial Intelligence
07/02/25
13min read
Four experts reveal how AI is transforming disease surveillance and veterinary practice In a remote region of California, a wildlife rehabilitation centre uploads routine clinical notes about an injured eagle showing signs of neurological symptoms. Within hours, an AI system flags this case alongside similar reports from across the State, detecting an unusual pattern that might signal an emerging disease outbreak—weeks before traditional surveillance methods would notice.
Claude AI
Discover why animal health is everyone’s health.
Blogpost
Innovation
01/21/26
6min read
As resistance to antibiotics grows, phages are gaining attention. With new regulatory approval in France, could this reshape how we tackle AMR?
Adèle James
Blogpost
Animal health
01/16/26
4min read
After years working on the Second Observatory Report, Nahoko Ieda, Scientific Officer at WOAH, reflects on the team’s key insights.
Nahoko Ieda
Blogpost
Wildlife
12/09/25
6min read
Do wild animals get sick? How do they recover? Explore how animals navigate illness, drawing on behaviours that reveal resilience.
Abigail Schoup
Blogpost
Animal health
11/21/25
5min read
Antibiotic use in livestock looks different in LMICs where access, quality, and farmer support shape the real story. Find out more.
Arshnee Moodley
Blogpost
Animal health
11/18/25
5min read
From creating educational tools to engaging communities, two veterinarians share how they are working to tackle the silent pandemic – antimicrobial resistance.
Karina Khatic
