A new World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) report delivers a strong warning: the world remains unprepared for the next pandemic. Cases of avian influenza detected in mammals doubled in 2024 compared to 2023, underlining weaknesses in global veterinary infrastructures.
The figures are sobering: 60% of human infectious diseases originate from animals, and just 13 zoonoses cause 2.4 billion human cases and 2.2 million deaths every year. Beyond the health impact, the economic logic is striking:
- Prevention costs ≈ USD 20 billion/year
- Outbreak response costs ≈ USD 212 billion/year
Why Africa should pay attention
African countries face unique vulnerabilities:
- High dependence on livestock for nutrition and income.
- Porous borders that facilitate cross-border spread of diseases.
- Limited veterinary infrastructure in many regions.
Investing in veterinary services, laboratories, and surveillance is therefore not a luxury, but a strategic necessity. Strengthening One Health systems is the only way to protect both human and animal populations.
