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Over 50 million people worldwide depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods. However, aquatic animal diseases can jeopardise the economic and environmental sustainability of this source of income. For instance, on a global scale, disease outbreaks cost the aquaculture industry over US$6 billion per year. 

As the emergence of new diseases is likely to continue, driven by factors such as climate change, unsustainable farming practices or unregulated trade, careful management of the health of aquatic animals is crucial. Most of these diseases severely impact the aquatic animal production sector, but also the open ecosystems in which these populations often live. 

The World Organisation for Animal Health has been at the forefront of preserving the significant contributions of aquatic animals, supported by its international network of experts for over 50 years. 2021 marked the launch of its global Aquatic Animal Health Strategy: an ambitious call to action to improve the sustainability of aquatic animal health systems. 

Guided by this strategy, we are bringing together different actors from the international community to coordinate joint actions in response to the challenges met by the aquatic sector. By working together, we can make our vision of improved aquatic animal health and welfare worldwide a reality.  

The OIE Aquatic Animal Health Strategy is a cornerstone towards more sustainable aquatic ecosystems.

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Paris, 3 June 2021 – At the close of the 88th General Session of the World Assembly, OIE national Delegates confirmed Dr Monique Éloit for a second term as OIE Director General. The vote was held by secret ballot and followed the “one country, one vote” rule. Dr Éloit has served as the Director General since 2016. Over the past five years, she has strived to restructure the actions of the Organisation to modernise its different programmes and to enhance the transparency of internal procedures, with the aim to consolidate OIE’s position among major international organisations.

While thanking the Assembly for her re-election, she reasserted her conviction that “the OIE should not remain solely focused on traditional animal health topics, such as livestock disease control, but that it should go beyond them, by investing more significantly in veterinary public health subjects as they have an impact on the whole of society.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that the challenges confronting global health are complex and constantly evolving. They cannot be addressed in isolation by a single sector but require concerted actions across several disciplines. Thus, the OIE has mobilised numerous veterinary experts to provide recommendations in support of the crisis management. The scope of OIE’s actions is not limited to improving animal health and animal production, it also contributes to sustain the lives of those who depend on livestock and aquaculture and to protect human health.

Benefitting from the organisational restructuring efforts of the past five past years, the OIE will aim to better respond to global challenges, through the implementation of the 7th Strategic Plan, which was adopted by the World Assembly of Delegates during last week’s General Session. The OIE will help to foster necessary changes so that national Veterinary Services, and more broadly animal health services, can be more resilient. Many of the OIE’s initiatives will contribute to address several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, such as “Zero Hunger”, “No poverty” or “Gender Equality”.

In support of this commitment, the OIE aims to promote and coordinate new collaborations for developing international animal health strategies which are supported by rigorous and evidence-based scientific expertise that incorporate the intersectoral nature of global challenges. As the operationalisation of the One Health approach will remain a core objective, the OIE will also seek to enrich its expertise with knowledge from additional fields, including socio-economics, for instance.

New technological advances will be pursued to allow stronger data management. The OIE is modernising and digitizing itself to meet the requirements of the new Big Data era. Activities include the launch of innovative tools, such as a new OIE corporate website, the full renovation of the World Animal Health Information System (OIE-WAHIS), the development of a global database on the use of antimicrobial agents in animals. The gradual establishment of an Observatory of Standards is another example of tool which will enable the Organisation to provide more effective support to Members in the challenges they meet implementing OIE Standards.

Over the past five years the credibility of the OIE has been strengthened because Members and staff have built a more robust, more transparent Organisation. Members’ trust, and that of partners and funders, is still strong. Looking towards the future, Dr Éloit states that “leveraging this momentum, my ambition for the coming years is to contribute to building an OIE that is still influential, engaging and – I hope – an organisation recognised for its values.”

My ambition for the coming years is to contribute to building an OIE that is still influential, engaging and – I hope – an organisation recognised for its values.

Dr Monique Éloit, OIE Director General

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Paris, 27 May 2021 – Namibia and the Philippines are the first two countries with OIE-endorsed official control programmes for dog-mediated rabies. It is the first time that OIE Members could apply for such approbation by the OIE World Assembly. This is a great move forward in the fight against this disease which still kills nearly 59, 000 people every year. Having gathered evidence that their official control programmes comply with OIE international Standards, Namibia and the Philippines will be able to advocate for support from their governments to progressively prevent and control the disease. The ultimate objective will be to eventually eliminate the disease from their territories and self-declare its freedom, thus contributing to the ‘Zero by 30’ global goal to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies.

OIE Members can submit on a voluntary basis their official control programmes for four diseases for endorsement by the OIE. They can also apply for the official recognition of animal health status for six priority diseases. Applications are reviewed through a very detailed process, which evaluates the sanitary measures in place and compliance of the Member with the OIE international Standards. In some cases, in-country missions are conducted. In the current particular context linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, some adaptations have been made to ensure the continuity in the evaluation of countries applications, notably thanks to the implementation of virtual interviews. The recognition of official disease status plays a key role in the livestock economy of countries as it contributes to facilitate regional and international trade of animals and animal products, notably in the context of negotiations according to the SPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

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Paris, 26 May 2021 – Human consumption of seafood is greater than ever before. Today, aquatic animals are the main source of protein for billions of people worldwide. Additionally, demand is expected to increase as the global population approaches the 10 billion mark. Yet, animal diseases continue to threaten the sustainable growth of the aquaculture sector and, consequently, our food supply. 

As the emergence of new diseases is likely to continue, driven by factors such as climate change, unsustainable farming practices or unregulated trade, careful management of the health of aquatic animals is crucial. Most of these diseases severely impact the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, but also the open ecosystems in which these populations often live. For instance, the spread of an amphibian disease known as chytridiomycosis has damaged global biodiversity more than any other disease recorded, triggering an amphibian extinction crisis.  

The consequences do not end here. On a global scale, animal disease outbreaks cost the aquaculture industry over US$6 billion per year. Furthermore, they threaten the source of jobs and income for nearly 60 million people employed by the aquatic animal production sector. 

The World Organisation for Animal Health has been at the forefront of preserving the significant contributions of aquatic animals, supported by its international network of experts. With this, the 88th General Session marks the launch of the first global strategy on aquatic animal health: an ambitious call to action to improve the sustainability of aquatic animal health systems.

In the upcoming five years, WOAH will bring together different actors from the international community, such as WOAH Members, experts, partners, decision-makers and the private sector, to coordinate joint actions in response to the challenges met by the aquatic sector. Guided by its new strategy, WOAH will continue to develop standards, build capacities, coordinate disease prevention, detection and response, and provide leadership.  

By working together, we can make our vision of improved aquatic animal health and welfare worldwide a reality. Let’s make WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Strategy a cornerstone towards more sustainable aquatic ecosystems.

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Paris, 26 May 2021 – Today’s challenges confronting animal health professionals are complex and constantly changing. For example, the climate crisis affects livestock and food production systems as well as the distribution and prevalence of several diseases. Therefore, the efficient use and analysis of data from different sectors is key to finding sustainable solutions for healthy animal production systems, our livelihoods as well as for our health. The 88th OIE General Session marks the opportunity to recognise the important value of the World Animal Health Information System (OIE-WAHIS) and its ability to provide detailed data on terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases. It is through this platform that animal disease trends for 2020 and early 2021¹ have been analysed in the report of the Current Animal Health Situation Worldwide.

As shown over the past year with the COVID-19 pandemic, the accurate and up-to-date knowledge of disease events is crucial to effectively controlling outbreaks and preventing further spread. When referring to animal diseases, localised and timely reporting enables monitoring of events. This is also key to ensuring sustainable animal production, and safeguarding human health, as some diseases can cross species barriers. The launch of the fully redesigned OIE-WAHIS in March 2021 represents a critical milestone in our ability to track animal and zoonotic diseases globally. OIE-WAHIS provides real-time information on the global situation of animal health, including a state-of-the-art digital mapping system. The platform provides in-depth data analysis and will constitute a vital tool for good governance of animal health, enhancing the relevance of veterinary data for decision-makers.

Lumpy skin disease is an example of a disease which is impacted by climatic factors and that has been regularly tracked on OIE-WAHIS. Its geographical distribution has evolved over the last decade to affect new areas. As a result, its presence in several regions threatens the livestock sector. Between 2020 and early 2021, seven out of the 11 Members who reported lumpy skin disease through immediate notifications experienced it for the first time in their territory in different parts of Asia. At the regional level, the OIE assisted the outbreak response by mobilising experts and providing guidance addressing emergency response, laboratory diagnostics, disease surveillance and prevention, as well as the importance of vaccination for affected or at-risk countries. The new OIE-WAHIS will further support the coordination of regional response by enhancing data sharing on control measures.

Amongst the most reported diseases over the past year, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and African swine fever continue to be a concern for the international community. HPAI has been reported by 42 Members through immediate notifications in the past year. The current wave of HPAI is mainly associated with the subtype H5N8. Similarly, African swine fever is another example of a transboundary animal disease which was reported by 20 Members in the past year. The disease impacts the health of domestic pigs, as well as wild boars, and affects local livelihoods and global pork production. The aim of the OIE is to continue to promote the transparent and rapid flow of information as an essential component to understand their epidemiology and contribute to fostering trust between countries.

The OIE’s mission to enhance the knowledge of the worldwide animal health situation and respond to disease events was further highlighted in the efforts of the Organisation to mobilise expertise to respond to emerging diseases over the past year. Early 2020 saw the first reports indicating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in animals. As an emerging disease, it is notifiable through OIE-WAHIS, and it constituted 5% of all notifications received by the OIE by the end of the year. SARS-CoV-2 is a contemporary example of how data reported to OIE-WAHIS contributes to the global surveillance of diseases under the ‘One Health’ approach and can have a relevant impact on both animal and human health. Through the reporting of animal cases, the OIE was able to rapidly provide relevant guidance on surveillance and research activities to the global COVID-19 pandemic response efforts. Transparency of the global animal health situation makes sure we are well placed to protect public health, control disease and to ensure the safety of world trade in animals and animal products.

The OIE encourages its Members to use OIE-WAHIS to its full potential to support decision-making and animal disease surveillance at local, regional and global levels. The collaborative efforts by Members in providing data in a timely manner will underpin the OIE’s data stewardship role in the Big Data era. These efforts enable us all to use the data capability to develop evidence-based animal health and veterinary public health policies for the good of all.

¹1 January 2020 – 25 January 2021

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Paris, 25 May 2021 – This past year has taught us many global health lessons. None more important than the necessity of building health system resilience, at both the national and international level, to safeguard against the devastating effects of pandemics. The concept of resilience has evolved over time, however it is generally accepted as the ability to flexibly prepare for, adapt and recover from adverse events. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major test of global resilience, and has encouraged the international community, including the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to review its global response to the pandemic and assess how to best incorporate the hard lessons learned into a more sustainable and healthier future. 

Building One Health resilience strategies 

The OIE looks through a One Health lens, recognising that the health of humans, animals and the environment is interconnected, and interdependent. The COVID-19 pandemic itself demonstrated this interconnectivity, as it is likely that the SARS-CoV-2 virus originated in animals. Over the past few years, and spurred on by the pandemic, the OIE has assessed the critical vulnerabilities of One Health resilience through its major activities, including through Member assessments as a part of the Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) programme, data from the World Animal Health Information System (OIE-WAHIS), as well as through surveys and questionnaires completed by Members and partners. This wealth of information has led to some preliminary conclusions can no longer be ignored if the international community aims for better preparedness against a future pandemic. Already taking action, the OIE developed its annual technical item and subsequent Resolution No. 31 for the 88^th General Session, aiming to improve One Health resilience at the global level and for its Members.  

The OIE has identified three critical vulnerabilities to One Health resilience that need to be addressed by both the organisation and its Members. The first vulnerability is a lack of attention to wildlife health management, and its inadequate integration into animal health and One Health strategies at all levels. This affects a country’s ability to manage emerging disease threats and to protect biodiversity. The second vulnerability is a lack of global capacity to manage disease emergencies including weaknesses in country capacity to put emergency management plans into operation (leading to a lack of preparedness). A third vulnerability is the chronic, systemic weaknesses in the sustainability of diagnostic laboratory systems. Transversely, One Health resilience is further weakened by deficiencies in the ability of Veterinary Services to access resources and to apply a truly multisectoral approach.

The OIE’s annual technical item, as an important part of its 88^th General Session, also investigates the Organisation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and these vulnerabilities, presenting the OIE World Assembly of Delegates with resolutions that could address some of these weaknesses and make our health systems stronger. 

Expanding the OIE’s role in wildlife health management 

To better understand the challenges facing wildlife health management, the OIE surveyed Members’ Veterinary Authorities on the role of Veterinary Services (VS) in wildlife management. The survey delved into specific issues, such as the surveillance of disease in wildlife, and the health monitoring of wildlife in the context of wildlife trade, at all levels of the supply chain. Eighty-one percent of respondents¹ said that their VS were involved in wildlife health management, mainly in the monitoring of the trade value chain: of import/export activities, the inspection of wildlife products and by-products, and the transportation of wildlife. However, only 15% of these respondents said that they collaborated with conservation organisations, charities, non-governmental organisations and/or other government departments focused on wildlife. This lack of One Health coordination between the VS and wildlife authorities is only one of the difficulties faced by the VS in implementing an appropriate system for health monitoring of wildlife trade and use.  

Establishing relevant and appropriate legislative or regulatory frameworks for health monitoring of wildlife trade is a significant concern for the VS. In response the OIE launched its Wildlife Health Framework in 2021, aiming to improve the ability of OIE Members to manage the risk of pathogen emergence in wildlife and transmission at the human−animal−ecosystem interface, while taking into account the protection of wildlife and biodiversity. Furthermore, it aims to support OIE Members to improve their surveillance systems, and their early detection, notification and management of wildlife diseases, including by boosting the use of OIE-WAHIS. The framework will integrate wildlife health across the OIE’s core programmes and activities.  

Better emergency management is essential for future pandemics 

Emergency management is also a key aspect of national resilience, ensuring that a country is well-prepared to act quickly when a new disease threat emerges. While it is encouraging that 90% of OIE Members have some sort of national contingency plan, almost half of the 125 OIE Members assessed by the OIE PVS Evaluation Tool had inadequate or no resources to respond to an emergency. A plan must be ‘fit for purpose’ by being based on local risk, accompanied by adequate resources (including trained personnel, equipment, and finances) and regularly assessed through simulation exercises. VS and animal health are not adequately represented in government frameworks and national emergency management plans, indicating major vulnerabilities for a future pandemic scenario. More work is needed to advocate for this, and to provide more support from a greater number of stakeholders for animal health emergencies, mobilise resources, and allow Veterinary Services to contribute their expertise to national emergencies. The OIE is in the process of building an evidence base for its emergency management programme which will be used to develop fit-for-purpose guidance, upgrade capacity-building tools more effectively, and share models and best practices to support OIE Members in improving sustainability of their emergency management systems. 

Improving the sustainability of laboratories  

The third One Health resilience vulnerability identified by the OIE was the sustainability of laboratories, a vital feature for fighting a disease threat. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of diagnostics − often housed in or coordinated from laboratories − in identifying and characterising new and emerging pathogens and detecting outbreaks early to facilitate containment and avoid further spread. Well-designed systems which link surveillance, laboratory systems and effective disease intervention strategies can maintain or improve levels of performance of VS over time. Such systems should be sustainable to ensure these benefits are maintained. However, a 2019 survey of 136 participating Members showed that of the more than 68,000 pieces of equipment reported globally, approximately 22% were not properly maintained and 46% were not properly calibrated, with variations between OIE regions. The OIE is active in seeking targeted solutions and is also refining its own laboratory capacity-building tools to ensure that sustainability is integrated as a core component. 

Examining these One Health resilience vulnerabilities has been crucial for the OIE. It has encouraged the organisation to reflect on its role and its ability to support the VS in their mission to protect animal health, and plan a proactive response in close partnership with its Members.  Resolution No. 31 calls on its Members to join the OIE in committing themselves to building systems that can not only protect future, but build a more sustainable, healthier world for both humans and animals.  

¹ The survey received 151 responses from Members.

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