The veterinary workforce can help spare us from future pandemics – but only if we invest in it

The world is at a crossroads. After years of relative quiet, avian influenza has been surging again with a ferocity not seen in decades. Other infectious diseases that had faded into the background are re-emerging. Vector-borne illnesses like Rift Valley fever are expanding their reach. Meanwhile, new variants of COVID-19 continue to evolve, reminding us that viral threats don’t simply disappear—they adapt and return. These warning signs underscore a stark reality: the risk of zoonotic diseases spilling over into human populations is not a distant threat—it is immediate and growing, writes World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Director General Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran.

The past decades have made one thing painfully clear: serious health threats like COVID-19, Ebola, and SARS almost always start in animals. Some 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases and nearly every recent pandemic are zoonoses—diseases that jump from animals to humans. This happens because humans, wildlife, and livestock are increasingly in close contact, blurring the boundaries between species. This interconnectedness lies at the core of the 'One Health' approach, which links human, animal, and ecosystem health.

Sadly, the world remains caught in a vicious cycle of panic and neglect. After every outbreak, attention spikes and resources flow, only to dry up once the immediate crisis fades. We saw this pattern before COVID-19, and it has proven devastatingly costly. COVID-19 alone wiped out years of progress against poverty and triggered a 4.4% contraction in the global economy in 2020. Zoonotic diseases already cause more than a billion infections and a million deaths each year. This cycle cannot continue—it puts all of us at grave risk.

Preventing pandemics means addressing risks at their source—where humans, animals, and ecosystems meet—with the necessary investment. It is simply our best defense.

The veterinary workforce is on the frontline of this mission. Veterinarians and the associated workforce tackle diseases that threaten human health directly as well as those that devastate livestock and wildlife, affecting food security and livelihoods. Their work spans border controls, slaughterhouses, labs, communities, antimicrobial monitoring, and early-warning systems.

Yet, this vital workforce is chronically underfunded. To equip veterinary services worldwide to meet international standards and advance One Health, significant investments are needed. The World Bank estimates $2.1 billion annually is required globally, with $1.1bn coming from international support, especially for low- and middle-income countries. To put this into perspective, the global trade in animals and animal products exceeds €350bn ($406bn) annually.

But this isn’t a cost—it’s a strategic investment in humanity’s future. Comprehensive One Health prevention across farms, forests, and cities costs roughly $10.3 to $11.5 billion a year, less than 1% of what COVID-19 cost in 2020 alone. Investing early reduces the need for expensive emergency responses later.

Moreover, these investments yield broad benefits. They improve food safety and security, reducing losses from animal disease and opening markets for producers. They contribute to climate action by cutting emissions associated with diseases that impact productivity, bolstering resilience. They strengthen health systems through better coordination and awareness. Strengthening veterinary capacity also means protecting our global security. Animal health professionals serve as our first line of defense in biological threat reduction, often spotting unusual disease patterns - natural, accidental or deliberate - before anyone else. Yet they are too often still excluded from the security discourse.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), as the global authority for animal health, has been leading efforts alongside partners—the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—to launch the One Health Joint Plan of Action. This collaborative initiative aims to build stronger, more connected systems worldwide to prevent health threats at their source. Alongside new funding opportunities like the Pandemic Fund, this partnership offers a historic chance to prioritize prevention and protect the health of people, animals, and the planet.

I urge global leaders, policymakers, and especially health and finance ministers to recognize one truth: animal health is our health, it’s everyone’s health. Let’s commit to sustained, fair, and strategic investments in veterinary services and animal health systems worldwide. By turning the painful lessons of past pandemics into lasting resolve, we can break this cycle of panic and neglect and build a safer, healthier future for generations to come.

The health of our planet, our animals, and our people are inseparable — investing in the veterinary workforce is not just a choice, it’s a moral imperative to safeguard the future of all life on Earth.

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