The FVE welcomes the historic conclusion of the WHO Pandemic Agreement negotiations, recognising it as a significant step forward in enhancing the global health system through collaborative international action. This development highlights the essential role of animal health in preventing pandemics and emphasises the pressing need to invest in proactive measures at the source. It also reflects FVE’s ongoing commitment to embedding One Health principles at the heart of global health governance. The agreement’s inclusion of zoonotic disease prevention and antimicrobial resistance provisions represents major progress in addressing pandemic risks from their origin.
FVE contributed scientific and technical expertise aligned with its most recent position paper on pandemic preparedness. As the agreement moves toward formal adoption by the World Health Assembly in May 2025, FVE remains committed to championing a One Health approach for the future.
- Prevent – The risk of future pandemics can be reduced by integrating veterinary expertise on biosecurity, biocontainment and vaccination into wider public health and environmental responses, utilising veterinary core skills in epidemiology and contingency planning concerning humans, animals and the environment.
- Respond – Timely management of infectious emerging diseases can be better achieved through an effective application of the One Health approach and through the development of specific and sensitive diagnostics, combined with data-sharing technologies providing early-detection, real-time monitoring and surveillance capabilities.
- Communicate – An effective One Health response requires accurate and coordinated messaging to deliver public cooperation and support societal investment in delivering the human and financial resources needed to prevent and respond to pandemics