Welcome to The Animal Echo

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.

 

The Animal Echo_Knowledge sharing for animal health_group of African veterinarian students observing a horse
Recent articles about Workforce Development

Sci-Tech

Workforce Development

05/18/26

14min read

Capacity, Collaboration and Capital: Building Veterinary Services Fit for the Future 

Collaboration is presented as a structured, demand-driven ecosystem that aligns national priorities with regional and global partnerships, supporting cross-sectoral One Health action and resilient governance. Capital is considered broadly, encompassing not only financial investment but also human, institutional, legal, social and knowledge resources, all of which remain chronically underbalanced in many contexts. The article demonstrates that only integrated investment across these three pillars can deliver lasting improvements, enabling Veterinary Services to address emerging health, economic and environmental challenges to remain fit for the future. 

Hana Abdelsattar

Sci-Tech

Workforce Development

04/01/26

12min read

Recognising and Responding to Veterinary Mental Distress

Veterinary Services are going through important demographic and professional changes that are reshaping expectations around work and well-being. At the same time, growing evidence shows that veterinarians around the world face high levels of psychological distress, burnout and workplace stress. Drawing on recent studies from both the Global North and Global South, this article highlights key factors affecting veterinary professionals, including heavy workloads, financial pressures and limited recognition of their work.

Marlène Buchy

Sci-Tech

Workforce Development

05/18/26

14min read

Capacity, Collaboration and Capital: Building Veterinary Services Fit for the Future 

Collaboration is presented as a structured, demand-driven ecosystem that aligns national priorities with regional and global partnerships, supporting cross-sectoral One Health action and resilient governance. Capital is considered broadly, encompassing not only financial investment but also human, institutional, legal, social and knowledge resources, all of which remain chronically underbalanced in many contexts. The article demonstrates that only integrated investment across these three pillars can deliver lasting improvements, enabling Veterinary Services to address emerging health, economic and environmental challenges to remain fit for the future. 

Hana Abdelsattar

Sci-Tech

Workforce Development

04/01/26

12min read

Recognising and Responding to Veterinary Mental Distress

Veterinary Services are going through important demographic and professional changes that are reshaping expectations around work and well-being. At the same time, growing evidence shows that veterinarians around the world face high levels of psychological distress, burnout and workplace stress. Drawing on recent studies from both the Global North and Global South, this article highlights key factors affecting veterinary professionals, including heavy workloads, financial pressures and limited recognition of their work.

Marlène Buchy

View more articles
Recent articles about Global Health Security

Sci-Tech

Global Health Security

01/28/26

10min read

Biosecurity Risks Threaten Agribusiness

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

Invisible Challenges, Visible Action: A New One Health Microbial Forensics Capability for the UK

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

Engaging Animal Health and Veterinary Stakeholders with the Biological Weapons Convention

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

Health Risks of Consuming Animals that Died Naturally

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

Advancing One Health Security Through Animal Waste Surveillance and Wildmeat Value Chains

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

data protection_animals_data scientist in a farm with cattle

Blogpost

Global Health Security

10/22/25

4min read

Why data protection is key to global animal health security

Protecting animal health data starts with awareness. Cybersecurity expert, Pascaline Brossard explains why.

 Pascaline Bossard

Sci-Tech

Global Health Security

10/16/25

7min read

From Fiction to Reality: The Threat of Agro-Terrorism

Daniel Donachie

Sci-Tech

Global Health Security

01/28/26

10min read

Biosecurity Risks Threaten Agribusiness

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

Invisible Challenges, Visible Action: A New One Health Microbial Forensics Capability for the UK

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

Engaging Animal Health and Veterinary Stakeholders with the Biological Weapons Convention

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

Health Risks of Consuming Animals that Died Naturally

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

Advancing One Health Security Through Animal Waste Surveillance and Wildmeat Value Chains

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

data protection_animals_data scientist in a farm with cattle

Blogpost

Global Health Security

10/22/25

4min read

Why data protection is key to global animal health security

Protecting animal health data starts with awareness. Cybersecurity expert, Pascaline Brossard explains why.

 Pascaline Bossard

Sci-Tech

Global Health Security

10/16/25

7min read

From Fiction to Reality: The Threat of Agro-Terrorism

Daniel Donachie

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Discover why animal health is everyone’s health.

 

Blogpost

Animal health systems

05/04/26

7min read

We asked next-gen veterinarians: How can we better invest in animal health and welfare?

From prevention to protecting ecosystems, young veterinarians explain how investing in animal health safeguards people, animals, and the environment.

International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA)

veterinary education investment in Africa_Black Young female veterinarian looking after a horse

Blogpost

Animal health systems

04/13/26

6min read

What investing in veterinary education delivers for Africa’s health and resilience

A ripple effect: strengthening cross-border disease control and coordinated responses to transboundary threats. Discover more.

Dr Junaidu Maina

Biosecurity_experts animal health

Blogpost

Biosecurity

03/23/26

4min read

Why we do what we do: A global health expert and a scientist reflect on global health security

What motivates people to work in global health security? How do experts explain complex concepts like biosecurity to a curious 10-year-old? Two experts share.

Interviewee: Dr. Kirk Douglas

Animal welfare_Paris International Agricultural Fair

Blogpost

Animal health

03/11/26

6min read

Exploring animal welfare and biosecurity through a One Health lens at the 2026 Paris International Agricultural Fair

Experience the 2026 Paris International Agricultural Fair through a One Health expert’s view, highlighting animal welfare, biosecurity, and food systems.

Mauro De Rosa

Livestock development_african boy walking a herd of cattle in sub-saharan africa

Blogpost

Animal health systems

02/17/26

5min read

Dynamics that shape livestock development policies across sub-Saharan Africa

What really shapes livestock development in sub-Saharan Africa? Explore the social, cultural, and economic forces at play.

Dr Junaidu Maina

Phage therapy in animal health_lab scientist with a petri dish

Blogpost

Innovation

01/21/26

6min read

A century-old alternative to antibiotics goes modern — here’s why it matters

As resistance to antibiotics grows, phages are gaining attention. With new regulatory approval in France, could this reshape how we tackle AMR?

Adèle James

Observatory_Aerial view of green pasture with animals feeding on grass

Blogpost

Animal health

01/16/26

4min read

Things we learned from the Observatory

After years working on the Second Observatory Report, Nahoko Ieda, Scientific Officer at WOAH, reflects on the team’s key insights.

Nahoko Ieda

Blogpost

Animal health systems

05/04/26

7min read

We asked next-gen veterinarians: How can we better invest in animal health and welfare?

From prevention to protecting ecosystems, young veterinarians explain how investing in animal health safeguards people, animals, and the environment.

International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA)

veterinary education investment in Africa_Black Young female veterinarian looking after a horse

Blogpost

Animal health systems

04/13/26

6min read

What investing in veterinary education delivers for Africa’s health and resilience

A ripple effect: strengthening cross-border disease control and coordinated responses to transboundary threats. Discover more.

Dr Junaidu Maina

Biosecurity_experts animal health

Blogpost

Biosecurity

03/23/26

4min read

Why we do what we do: A global health expert and a scientist reflect on global health security

What motivates people to work in global health security? How do experts explain complex concepts like biosecurity to a curious 10-year-old? Two experts share.

Interviewee: Dr. Kirk Douglas

Animal welfare_Paris International Agricultural Fair

Blogpost

Animal health

03/11/26

6min read

Exploring animal welfare and biosecurity through a One Health lens at the 2026 Paris International Agricultural Fair

Experience the 2026 Paris International Agricultural Fair through a One Health expert’s view, highlighting animal welfare, biosecurity, and food systems.

Mauro De Rosa

Livestock development_african boy walking a herd of cattle in sub-saharan africa

Blogpost

Animal health systems

02/17/26

5min read

Dynamics that shape livestock development policies across sub-Saharan Africa

What really shapes livestock development in sub-Saharan Africa? Explore the social, cultural, and economic forces at play.

Dr Junaidu Maina

Phage therapy in animal health_lab scientist with a petri dish

Blogpost

Innovation

01/21/26

6min read

A century-old alternative to antibiotics goes modern — here’s why it matters

As resistance to antibiotics grows, phages are gaining attention. With new regulatory approval in France, could this reshape how we tackle AMR?

Adèle James

Observatory_Aerial view of green pasture with animals feeding on grass

Blogpost

Animal health

01/16/26

4min read

Things we learned from the Observatory

After years working on the Second Observatory Report, Nahoko Ieda, Scientific Officer at WOAH, reflects on the team’s key insights.

Nahoko Ieda

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Animal health

Animal health systems

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Biosecurity

Collaboration

Gender

Global Health Security

Innovation

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Wildlife

Workforce Development