Published on: 2026-06-12
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Countries around the world are facing a growing wave of transboundary animal diseases – from African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease to highly pathogenic avian influenza and the newly emerged parasite in the USA known as the New Soviet screw worm. Against the backdrop of accelerating movement of people, animals, and goods, these threats cross borders faster than ever in history, creating pressure on national veterinary control systems and global food security.
The stakes are huge: livestock farming provides for more than a billion people and annually brings trillions of dollars to the global economy. Any disruption in this system is instantly reflected in trade, agriculture, and the welfare of rural areas.
According to Tian Sina Tanavat, Assistant to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Chief Veterinarian of the organization, the consequences of outbreaks “go far beyond animal health.” They disrupt production, undermine tourism, threaten food security, and carry direct risks to people.
Economic damage is already measured in tens of billions of dollars. Avian flu has destroyed more than 633 million birds and threatened a market worth 48 billion dollars. Reptiles cause an annual loss of 11.3 billion dollars, and African swine fever in certain Asian countries has reduced the pig population by almost half.
The situation is complicated by new alarming trends. After decades of successful control, the New World screw worm has reappeared in the USA, having penetrated the country through Central America. At the same time, a rare type of plague has gone beyond Africa, spreading to Asia and the Middle East. These examples show how quickly threats can change geography and undermine the stability of food systems. FAO emphasizes: the cheapest and most effective measures are preventive and prophylactic measures.
“Experience shows: prevention is always more effective and cheaper than responding after an outbreak,” noted FAO Deputy Director-General Bet Bold. Investments in veterinary services, according to her, are one of the most reliable ways to protect food systems and the resilience of the agri-food sector.
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