- WHO and global partners announced four major One Health initiatives at an international summit
- New Global One Health Network will connect institutions to improve country-level implementation
- Expanded scientific advisory role through the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP)
- Renewed global effort to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030
- New avian influenza strategy aims to unify surveillance and response across sectors
- WHO assumes leadership of the Quadripartite partnership (FAO, WOAH, UNEP)
- Focus on zoonotic diseases, which account for ~75% of emerging infectious diseases
Global health leaders convened in France for a landmark One Health Summit, where the World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners outlined a series of new initiatives designed to strengthen global preparedness against emerging health threats.
Turning One Health Strategy Into Action
The summit marked a shift from policy discussion to implementation, emphasizing practical steps to address interconnected risks across human, animal, and environmental health. Leaders highlighted the urgency of coordinated action as zoonotic diseases continue to pose a major global threat.
Approximately 60% of known human infectious diseases originate in animals, and nearly 75% of emerging diseases are zoonotic—underscoring the need for integrated surveillance and response systems.
Four Pillars of Action
WHO and its partners introduced four key initiatives to operationalize the One Health approach:
- A Global Network of One Health Institutions to improve collaboration, training, and country-level support
- Expansion of the OHHLEP scientific panel to guide research priorities and policy through 2029
- A renewed campaign to eliminate rabies, which still causes tens of thousands of deaths annually
- A unified avian influenza framework to strengthen preparedness and cross-sector coordination
Together, these efforts aim to move from fragmented responses to a more cohesive global system.
Strengthening Global Coordination
WHO will take on a leadership role as chair of the Quadripartite partnership, working alongside FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The goal is to streamline governance and deliver measurable outcomes at the country level.
Expanding Scientific Collaboration
In parallel with the summit, WHO launched its first Global Forum of Collaborating Centres, bringing together more than 800 institutions from over 80 countries. The forum is designed to accelerate research, data sharing, and capacity-building across the One Health ecosystem.
Addressing Global Health Risks
The initiatives respond to growing global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food and water safety concerns, and unequal access to healthcare. Leaders emphasized that preventing future pandemics will require sustained investment in science, stronger international cooperation, and integrated health systems.
Outlook
By advancing concrete initiatives and strengthening global partnerships, WHO and its collaborators are positioning the One Health approach as a central strategy for preventing future health crises and improving resilience across human, animal, and environmental systems.
Information sourced from WHO press release.
