Strengthening Veterinary Laboratory Services as a global public good

Over the course of history, disease diagnosis provided by health laboratories has emerged as a pillar of pandemic preparedness. Thanks to their experience in dealing with large-scale epidemics in animal populations, providing expertise on disease origin and evolution, as well as processing human samples, veterinary laboratories have played a critical role during every zoonotic disease outbreak in recent history. By contributing to disease surveillance, detection and control, laboratories support health systems and reduce risks posed to animal, human, and environmental health.

This document makes a case for how a sustainable laboratory network can enable Veterinary Services to build resilience and take decisions impacting animal, human and environmental health and livelihoods.