Strengthening Animal Disease Surveillance and Early Warning in Asia

Bangkok - Animal and zoonotic diseases threaten food security, livelihoods and public health in Asia. It is critical to strengthen national capacity to prevent, detect and respond to these disease threats, not only for farmers and consumers in Asia, but also to protect health globally by reducing pandemic risk.

Against this backdrop, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened a regional consultation here from 2 to 4 December. The event brought together government representatives from nine Asian countries, as well as participants from international organizations and technical partners. 

Over the past five years, FAO has supported countries in the region in assessing national animal health surveillance capacities and identifying common challenges and priorities. Building on this, workshop participants jointly identified the core principles to develop a progressive framework to strengthen national animal disease surveillance and early warning. The framework will support countries in improving surveillance capacities in a realistic, practical and sustainable way across diverse national contexts in Asia.

Why a progressive framework?
Asia’s animal health landscape is highly diverse. Countries operate with different levels of maturity, resources and infrastructure for surveillance systems. The proposed progressive framework acknowledges these differences and provides a structured yet flexible pathway for improvement. It allows countries to adapt their actions and timelines to their specific epidemiological, institutional and resource contexts.

Representatives from participating countries worked closely with technical partners including the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ), Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Australia,   and the French agricultural research and international cooperation organization (CIRAD) to define the guiding principles and the core components for the development of this progressive approach. 

In the next 12 months, FAO will help coordinate key stakeholder groups to develop this progressive pathway. The framework will serve as a practical guide for transforming surveillance systems into more robust, risk-based and integrated approaches. By focusing on feasibility and evidence, improvements will be measurable, achievable and sustainable.

FAO will harmonize this progressive approach with ASEAN’s stepwise approach to surveillance and early warning, ensuring that each Member State achieves minimum surveillance capacities. This alignment will also support cross-border collaboration, which is essential for the early detection and management of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) that cross national boundaries.

Navigating emerging disease risks
In a side event on foot-and-mouth disease, FAO reviewed and discussed the risks to the livestock sector posed by the introduction and spread of exotic strains in Asia. Through expert presentations and hands-on group work, participants examined regional risks and discussed priority actions to strengthen targeted surveillance. This forward-looking, risk-based approach is critical for anticipating emerging threats and mitigating their potential impact.

Outcomes from the workshop
This regional consultation took place at a time when FAO continues to warn that TADs pose an urgent threat to global health security and economic stability. Strengthened surveillance and early warning systems are a cornerstone of preparedness and prevention.

The outcomes of the consultation are expected to inform national and regional policies, guide strategic investments and support coordinated action across countries. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to improved animal health, more resilient livelihoods and stronger food systems in a rapidly changing risk environment.