Four takeaways from the State of the World’s Animal Health report

1. Vaccines save lives. But not everyone can access them.

Vaccines are among the most powerful tools for preventing and controlling diseases. Their impact is unmatched: They minimise livestock losses, prevent zoonotic disease crossover and reduce the global need for antibiotics.

Since their inception in 2006, WOAH vaccine banks have provided a lifeline for communities affected by animal disease outbreaks, promptly offering high-quality vaccines in compliance with WOAH International Standards at an affordable price. Between 2013 and 2024, 117.76 million doses of PPR vaccines were distributed in the Sahel region alone. Vaccination has been a game-changer in the fight against dog-mediated rabies, providing much-needed doses to countries in Africa and Asia. Yet, access to vaccines is still far from equal around the world. There are ongoing challenges when it comes to research, production, distribution and uptake. Political uncertainty and lack of consistent funding add to this already complex picture. As highlighted by the COVID-19, vaccination hesitancy also plays a role that shouldn’t be ignored.

2. Animal diseases are on the move.

Infectious animal diseases are migrating to previously unaffected areas – places that are often unprepared to deal with them. Just think about New World screwworm finding its feet in Mexico or African swine fever (ASF) creeping into the coasts of Sri Lanka. Mosquito-borne diseases, like dengue fever, have also been expanding their reach in new regions across the world. 

One of the underlying factors behind this trend is climate change. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are dramatically altering today’s landscape, making it easier for diseases to find new ground in more favourable conditions. Half of them have zoonotic – or animal-to-human – potential, which highlights the critical interconnection between the two ecosystems. 

The arrival or re-emergence of diseases in new regions is a telling sign of an ever-changing world. It’s a clear warning, too: our ability to respond needs to keep up just as quickly. That entails investing in stronger surveillance systems, faster response capacities and cross-border cooperation to prevent disease outbreaks from becoming more frequent and harder to predict. 

3. Outbreaks of bird flu are more worrying than ever before.

The world is grappling with a deadly wave of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI). Over the last 20 years, more than 633 million birds have been lost to the disease. But birds are not the only species which was affected. The virus has been detected in mammals such as foxes, dolphins, bears and even domestic pets. 

Outbreaks in mammals more than doubled last year compared to 2023, jumping from 459 to 1,022 according to the State of the World’s Animal Health report. Whilst the risk of human infection remains low, the more mammalian species affected, the higher the chances that the virus adapts to mammal-to-mammal and potentially spilling over into humans.  

4. Global antibiotic use in animals is dropping 

The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials can lead to the development of antimicrobial resistance, reducing the effectiveness of antimicrobials. The real-world impacts of this phenomenon are alarming – with higher costs for food-producing sectors due to higher animal mortality, reduced productivity and compromised food security being some of them. This is why WOAH develops international standards on their responsible and prudent use in animals. 

But there is good news: antimicrobial use (AMU) in animals has decreased by 5% between 2020 and 2022, and expanding livestock vaccination globally would further reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. According to a 2024 report co-published by WOAH and the World Bank, if farmers worldwide reduce antibiotic use by 30% through improved hygiene, vaccination and biosecurity, the global GDP could gain up to US$120 billion between 2025 and 2050. 

There are, however, some new challenges to overcome. Around a fifth of WOAH Members report using antimicrobials as growth promoters, despite WOAH advising against them. Some findings have also raised concerns about the use of critical antibiotics in aquaculture environments.  

Some innovative approaches – such as probiotics and genetic improvement – can help tackle the issue. However, thanks to continued investment in research and the adoption of innovative technologies, vaccination is poised to become the most effective and immediate tool in the global fight against AMR.

These four takeaways highlight one increasingly urgent point: By investing in animal health, we protect everyone’s health. This is why it is important to continue enhancing the resilience of animal and public health systems through science-based initiatives, stronger surveillance and the exchange of best practices among countries – with vaccination being one of the most valuable tools in disease management and control. In short, investing in animal health paves the way for a resilient, more sustainable and safer future – for animals and humans alike.