Spend more on vet services to curb pandemic threat, says animal health body

August 18, 2026 - 06:18

The head of a leading international animal health organization has called for a significant increase in global spending on veterinary services, warning that billions of dollars are needed to prevent the kind of mass culls and economic disruption seen during recent disease outbreaks. The official argued that stronger animal health systems are a critical frontline defense against zoonotic diseases, which jump from animals to humans and can spark global health emergencies.

According to the organization, current funding levels are dangerously inadequate. Many low and middle-income countries lack the laboratory capacity, trained personnel, and surveillance networks needed to detect and contain animal diseases early. Without these basic tools, pathogens can spread silently through livestock and wildlife before spilling over into human populations. The result is often devastating, leading to the slaughter of millions of animals to stop transmission, as well as severe trade restrictions and food supply shocks.

The proposed investment, estimated in the billions of dollars annually, would go toward building robust veterinary infrastructure, improving disease tracking, and supporting rapid response teams. The organization emphasized that this is not just about animal welfare or agricultural productivity, though those are important. It is about global health security. The cost of prevention, the argument goes, is a fraction of the economic damage caused by a single major pandemic. The call comes as world leaders are still grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19 and as new animal-borne threats continue to emerge. The message is clear: paying for better animal health now is far cheaper than paying for the next crisis later.