Key facts
Zoonotic diseases
Zoonotic diseases, or zoonoses, are diseases shared between animals–including livestock, wildlife and pets–and people. Zoonotic diseases are commonly spread at the human-animal-environment interface – where people and animals interact with each other in their shared environment (FAO, OIE and WHO, 2019).
Dangerous pathogens
Approximately 70 percent of the pathogens causing emerging infectious diseases today are zoonotic, emerging from both wildlife and livestock.
Animal diseases pose a risk
Animal diseases present a significant risk to public health and can cause substantial harm to the livestock and poultry sectors, jeopardizing our food safety and security. Early prevention, detection and rapid response are essential for addressing these threats effectively.
Our focus
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Videos
Community biosecurity against African swine fever: Supporting smallholder farmers combat ASF
The FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) in Asia and the Pacific helps countries prevent and manage African swine fever (ASF) by strengthening animal health systems. To protect smallholder farmers, FAO launched the Community ASF Biosecurity Interventions (CABI) project, promoting practical biosecurity measures through training, facility support and monitoring. In this video, Isidra shares how ASF devastated her farm and how CABI empowered her with knowledge and tools to safeguard her pigs and livelihood. Piloted in the Philippines, CABI is now expanding across Southeast Asia and beyond, fostering resilience and food security for vulnerable communities. Learn more about proper biosecurity practices in a pig farm here.
15/12/2025
Publications
Building resilient animal health systems to reduce the risks and impact of biological threats in Southeast Asia
06/08/2025
This project factsheet showcases 18 months of implementation of an FAO initiative to reduce biological threats in Southeast Asia, highlighting progress...
Avian influenza risk of upsurge and regional spread through increased poultry trade before and during Lunar New Year festivities in Asia
26/03/2025
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) can result in major losses for the poultry industry, particularly impacting vulnerable small-scale producers....
ປຶ້ມຄູ່ມືການຝຶກອົບຮົມລະບາດວິທະຍາສັດຕະວະແພດພາກສະໜາມຂັ້ນພື້ນຖານ (Basic Field Veterinary Epidemiology Training Manual)
17/03/2025
The Basic Veterinary Epidemiology Field Training Manual needs updating to reflect current animal disease outbreaks. It provides guidance on preventing,...
-a-guide-for-set-evaluators.jpg?sfvrsn=a172d5a0_1 "Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET): A guide for SET evaluators")
Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET): A guide for SET evaluators
21/10/2024
Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET) Manual is a comprehensive methodology to guide assessors in implementing SET and ensuring that the assessments between...
Pakistan: Evaluation for action - Assessing animal disease surveillance capacities, August 2023
22/07/2024
This report highlights the findings of an evaluation of Pakistan’s animal disease surveillance system in Pakistan in August 2023, using FAO’s Surveillance...
Community African swine fever Biosecurity Interventions: Helping smallholder farmers and communities fight ASF
24/06/2024
As the importance of ASF prevention in smallholder settings has increased, FAO has launched the Communication African swine fever Biosecurity Interventions...
FAO ECTAD Asia and the Pacific profile
05/09/2022
This programme profile describes how FAO ECTAD in Asia and the Pacific region works with Member Nations to strengthen their animal health capacity and...
Multisectoral Coordination Mechanisms Operational Tool (MCM OT)
01/09/2022
The MCM OT is part of the operational tools of the Tripartite Zoonoses Guide. It provides a standard stepwise approach for countries to establish or...
Results snapshots from 2015 to 2024
Strategies, sops, guidelines and policy briefs developed
Projects have been implemented across the region
Professionals trained to improve their skills to prevent, detect, and respond to animal health threats
Laboratories in 20 countries can perform diagnostic test using FAO endorsed procedures
Laboratories across 9 countries have been assessed to enhance their antimicrobial susceptibility testing capabilities
Value chain studies identifying high-risk disease transmission zones/areas published
Publications, reports and manuscripts published to increase veterinary academic resources
Countries utilized FAO capacity assessment tools to improve national disease preparedness
Countries with established targeted surveillance programs in place (live bird markets)
Sustainable Development Goals contributions
In the news
- Viet Nam highlights science-driven food safety on World Food Safety Day
- UN agency seeks urgent response to 'alarming' spread in Asia-Pacific bird flu
- Combating African swine fever through community engagement and strategic communication
- The Disease Detectives Trying to Keep the World Safe From Bird Flu
Vacancy announcement
Technical Policy Specialist (Animal/Public Health)–Multiple profiles
See also
- FAO ECTAD
- FAO emergencies and resilience
- Animal health and production
- Antimicrobial resistance
- ASF update in the region
Contact
Maliwan Mansion
39 Phra Atit Road
Bangkok 10200, THAILAND Phone: (+66 2) 697 4000
Fax (+66 2) 697 4445
Email: