Rome, 11 June 2026 — Countries around the world are facing a growing threat from transboundary animal diseases (TADs), including New World screwworm, African swine fever, avian influenza, and foot-and-mouth disease, as well as emerging zoonotic threats such as Andes hantavirus, Ebola, and Nipah virus, the Food and Agriculture Organization warned on Wednesday. As diseases and pests move more rapidly across borders, countries face increasing pressure to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response systems.
The stakes are enormous. Livestock sectors support more than one billion livelihoods and contribute trillions of dollars in economic value each year. Protecting animal health is critical not only for farmers and livestock keepers but also for food security, trade, economic stability, and rural prosperity.
The Disease Landscape
The FAO's June 2026 alert highlights several concurrent disease crises:
New World Screwworm
New World screwworm has re-emerged in the United States after decades of successful containment, following its northward spread through Central America and Mexico. In June 2026, the FAO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched a project to contain the re-emergence of this parasitic fly, whose larvae infest the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. The return of screwworm to the United States represents a significant setback for a disease that was eradicated from North and Central America through the sterile insect technique in previous decades.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease
The emergence and international spread of the SAT1 serotype of foot-and-mouth disease beyond its historical range in Africa has raised concern across parts of Asia, the Middle East, and other regions. Official notifications of a new FMD virus serotype were recorded in China in April 2026 and Mongolia in May 2026. The FAO has warned that livestock populations in South and Southeast Asia are particularly vulnerable due to a lack of immunity to this serotype. Outbreaks have also been reported in Southern Africa, and the disease remains a persistent threat in the Near East and West Eurasia.
African Swine Fever
Now considered a global panzootic, African swine fever continues to threaten pig sectors across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. ASF has reduced pig herds by over 40 percent in some parts of Asia, with devastating consequences for smallholder farmers who depend on pigs for income and nutrition.
Avian Influenza
Highly pathogenic avian influenza remains a significant global threat, with the FAO emphasizing surveillance during high-risk periods such as the Lunar New Year in Asia. Avian influenza has resulted in the loss of more than 633 million poultry and threatens a $48 billion market.
Rift Valley Fever
In April 2026, the FAO and IGAD warned of an increased threat of Rift Valley fever in eastern and southern Africa due to flooding and rainfall. RVF is a viral zoonosis that primarily affects animals but can also infect humans, making it a priority for One Health surveillance.
Drivers of Disease Spread
The factors driving disease spread are becoming increasingly complex. Increased movement of animals, people, and products, changing production systems, environmental pressures, and uneven veterinary and surveillance capacity are creating new opportunities for diseases and pests to spread across regions.
"The impacts of these outbreaks extend far beyond animal health. They disrupt agricultural production, trade, and tourism, threaten livelihoods, increase food security risks, and in some cases pose direct risks to human health."
— Tiensin Thanawat, FAO Assistant Director-General, Director of the Animal Production and Health Division, and Chief Veterinarian
The Economic Toll
| Disease | Economic Impact |
|---|---|
| Avian Influenza | 633M+ poultry lost; $48B market at risk |
| Foot-and-Mouth Disease | $11.3 billion in annual losses |
| African Swine Fever | 40%+ pig herd reductions in parts of Asia |
| Aquatic Diseases | ~$10 billion in annual aquaculture losses |
FAO's Strategic Response
Building on more than 80 years of experience, FAO is working with Members and partners to strengthen global capacity through several key programmes:
- EMPRES-AH (Emergency Prevention System for Animal Health): Provides early warning and intelligence on disease outbreaks
- ECTAD (Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases): Regional capacity building
- EMC-AH (Emergency Management Centre for Animal Health): Rapid response deployment
- GPP-TAD (Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases): A new long-term, country-owned platform focused on prevention, early warning, preparedness, anticipatory action, and rapid response
The GPP-TAD programme is being developed as a collaborative, multi-partner initiative — including with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) — with a focus on strengthening national capacities, supporting sustainable financing approaches, and better linking country-level investments with regional and global support.
"Experience consistently shows us that prevention and preparedness are more effective — and less costly — than responding after an outbreak has taken hold. Investing in animal health systems is one of the most effective ways to protect livelihoods, support trade, strengthen food security and improve resilience across agrifood systems."
— Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General
The One Health Imperative
FAO's 2026 approach centers on One Health integration, promoting collaboration across animal health, public health, and environmental sectors to prevent spillover events and manage zoonotic threats. The convergence of animal disease outbreaks with zoonotic risks — including Ebola, Nipah, and Andes hantavirus — underscores the inadequacy of siloed approaches to health security.
The FAO emphasizes that the cost of prevention is significantly lower than the cost of responding to crises. When outbreaks exceed national capacity, FAO acts as the Provider of Last Resort, rapidly deploying expertise, coordinating the response, and mobilizing resources to sustain action when national systems are overwhelmed.
Sources:
- FAO, FAO calls for stronger prevention and global action as transboundary animal diseases spread across regions, 11 June 2026
- FAO Animal Health Division, FMD situation updates, 2026
- FAO/IAEA, New World Screwworm containment project, June 2026
- ReliefWeb, Transboundary animal diseases pose urgent threat to global food security, FAO warns, 2026
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Institutional Research Desk · Foresight Institute of Research and Translation
The collective editorial and research translation board of FIRAT, synthesising peer-reviewed evidence, policy briefs, and division milestones across our seven foundational research pillars.
