Worldwide animal health investment is insufficient according to the annual 'State of the World’s Animal Health' report published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Animal health receives as little as 0.6% of global health spending, despite mounting disease crises, the report warns.

The WOAH has said that aid cuts for animal health leaves the world dangerously exposed to trans-boundary diseases, food insecurity and the next pandemic.

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The report highlights that animal diseases destroy more than 20% of global animal production each year.

These impacts are felt most acutely in low- and middle-income countries, where animal health plays a critical role in sustaining livelihoods, food security and economic resilience.

Funding

The international aid budget for development assistance for health has declined to about US$39.1bn in 2025, with animal health accounting for less than 2.5% of that total. Over the same period, global defence spending reached a record of US$2.9tn.

The report shows that bringing veterinary services in every country up to international standards would cost approximately US$2.3bn per year, less than 0.05% of the US$3.6tn in economic losses attributed to COVID-19 in 2020, which most likely emerged from an animal source, while the precise origin and transmission route to humans has not been definitively established.

Disease

Over 2,000 outbreaks of high pathogenicity avian influenza were reported by 64 countries and territories between 2025 and 2026, resulting in the culling of more than 140 million poultry.

Foot-and-mouth disease has caused unprecedented outbreaks in southern Africa and reemerged in Europe.

African swine fever continues to spread, including through notable long-distance jumps. And the new world screwworm, a flesh-eating parasitic fly, is also raising serious concern, with tens of thousands of cases reported across Central America.

Some 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in animals, making animal health systems the world’s first line of defence against outbreaks, including a potential next pandemic.

However, the report indicates that these systems are under strain, with 18% of countries recently assessed showing declining veterinary capacity.

Veterinary services

Based on 54 countries and territories assessed by WOAH, it is estimated that an average 52% budget increase would be required to meet the actual annual cost of effective veterinary services.

WOAH’s performance veterinary services pathway (PVS) provides countries with independent assessment of their animal health systems and a roadmap for improvement.

On a positive note, following recent PVS activities, more than half of participating countries reported an increase in financial resources.

Overall, the report is calling on governments to increase funding for animal health systems and integrate it into broader health, economic and security strategies.

“Animal health systems sit at the very centre of food security, economic stability, welfare and human health, yet are chronically underfunded,” director general of the WOAH Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of stronger investment in prevention and the 'one health' approach. 'One health' will remain an aspiration until animal health is genuinely built into how we plan and invest, long before the next crisis arrives.”