Improving animal health for sustainable livestock transformation and One Health implementation

FAO is organizing its first ever Global Conference on Animal Health Innovation, Reference Centres and Vaccines from 23 to 25 September at FAO headquarters.

The event aims to strengthen global efforts in enhancing animal health and preventing disease outbreaks, as well as promoting sustainable livestock production and One Health implementation, while ensuring human health and food security.

Aligned with FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022−2031 and the SDGs, it highlights the importance of strengthening reference centre networks and improving access to quality vaccines for sustainable livestock systems.

For further reading, see the Publications catalogue.

Practical surveillance guidelines for the progressive control of foot-and-mouth disease and other transboundary animal diseases
Transboundary animal diseases threaten global health and sustainable development. These guidelines outline a practical surveillance approach for progressively controlling and potentially eradicating these diseases.

The continental atlas of the distribution of tsetse flies in Africa
Updating the geographic distribution of tsetse flies in Africa using data from 669 studies, mapping over 6 800 locations, this atlas serves as a crucial resource for planning and monitoring tsetse control and trypanosomosis eradication efforts.

Taking a multisectoral One Health approach: A tripartite guide to addressing zoonotic diseases in countries
This guide provides practical guidance on the One Health approach to building national mechanisms for multisectoral coordination, communication and collaboration to address zoonotic disease threats. Have a look at the operational tools that have been further developed.

Competencies for One Health field epidemiology (COHFE) framework
The COHFE framework outlines fourteen domains of knowledge, skills and competencies for One Health field epidemiologists across district, regional and national levels.

Veterinary vaccines: principles and applications
This publication covers advice and recommendations for vaccine production, quality control and effective vaccination schemes including vaccine selection, specifications, vaccination programmes, vaccine handling in the field, application, failures and assessment of herd protection.

Veterinary laboratory testing protocols for priority zoonotic diseases in Africa
Animal health laboratories are vital for diagnosing and monitoring transboundary and zoonotic diseases. This compendium offers updated protocols to improve laboratory capacity and ensure accurate, reliable diagnostic results.

Guidelines for livestock vaccination campaigns
Vaccination is essential for disease prevention, but its effectiveness relies on proper delivery, including maintaining the cold chain and hygienic practices. These guidelines provide key details for effective livestock vaccination campaigns to ensure successful disease control and prevention.

African swine fever prevention, detection and control in resource-limited settings
This booklet offers guidance on preventing, detecting and controlling African swine fever in resource-limited areas, highlighting key strategies for endemic regions and high-risk areas.

Developing an emergency vaccination plan for foot-and-mouth disease in free countries
This guide assists veterinary contingency planners in foot-and-mouth-free countries with developing an emergency vaccination plan and can be adapted for other animal health threats.

Guidelines for the control and prevention of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in wildlife populations
These guidelines are intended to help countries in the development and implementation of PPR eradication programmes, including objectives, policies and strategies that can be adapted to the full range of national needs, and that facilitate the integration of the wildlife sector into the national strategic plan.

More on animal health innovation, reference centres and vaccines

• Veterinary paraprofessional competency framework toolkit
• White paper: Build back better in a post-COVID-19 world – Reducing future wildlife-borne spillover of disease to humans
• FAO Reference Centres for Antimicrobial Resistance and Aquaculture Biosecurity
• Good emergency management practice: The essentials
• Legal framework for terrestrial animal biosecurity in the United Republic of Tanzania
• One Health in Agrifood System Transformation Fund
• Quadripartite One Health Intelligence Scoping Study
• FAO Reference Centres (website)
• FAO Reference Centres for Antimicrobial Resistance (website)