As caretakers of livestock, crops, and food production systems, ag managers can’t afford to miss the latest global trends in animal disease outbreaks — especially when they directly impact food supply chains, exports, and workforce safety. The newest report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) rings alarm bells that deserve our full attention.
In 2024, global outbreaks of bird flu in mammals doubled — jumping from 459 in 2023 to 1,022 reported cases across 55 countries. According to WOAH, nearly half of all tracked outbreaks (47%) are zoonotic, meaning they can jump from animals to humans.
These aren’t distant problems. These are the risks that threaten daily operations, biosecurity plans, and ultimately, business viability.
Three major drivers are fueling the rise in global animal disease:
Climate change is expanding the habitats of disease-carrying insects and migratory birds.
Global animal trade increases the risk of cross-border spread.
Vaccination rates have dropped by 5% between 2020–2022 — leaving more livestock exposed.
For ag professionals, this means it’s time to double down on both prevention and rapid detection.
While avian flu grabs headlines, MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) is also creeping back. The WHO confirmed nine new human cases in Saudi Arabia this spring — two of them fatal. Eight of the infected patients had no known contact with camels, suggesting environmental or indirect transmission.
Translation: These diseases aren’t just animal problems. They’re public health risks.
The cost of bird flu is staggering. Since the early 2000s, more than 630 million birds have been culled worldwide due to high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI). What began as a poultry disease has now reached cattle, cats, dogs, and even humans.
That’s why rigorous on-site biosecurity and wildlife mitigation strategies are more important than ever — especially during migratory bird seasons.
In 2024, we saw a disturbing expansion of diseases into previously unaffected areas:
Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) re-emerged in Europe.
African Swine Fever reached Sri Lanka.
New World Screwworm showed up in Mexico and Nicaragua.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease hit Germany for the first time since 1988.
These aren’t isolated events — they’re signs of a system under stress.
Strengthen biosecurity protocols now, not later.
Train staff to spot early symptoms in livestock — especially fevers, gastro issues, or respiratory signs.
Work with veterinarians to keep vaccination schedules up to date.
Stay alert to local wildlife interactions — especially during seasonal migrations.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is escalating. Overusing antibiotics in livestock doesn’t just risk your own herd — it’s helping create bacteria that medicine can’t kill. WOAH warns that by 2050, AMR could jeopardize food security for 2 billion people.
Europe has already reduced animal antibiotic use dramatically. It’s time for us all to follow suit by prioritizing preventive care over reactive treatment.
As an agriculture manager, you sit at the front lines of one of the biggest challenges of our time: the global shift in animal disease dynamics.
These rising threats demand more than reactive thinking — they call for strategic planning, smarter biosecurity, and continuous education across your team. Because when bird flu spreads to mammals, and MERS creeps closer to home, we need more than hope — we need action.
Let’s keep our operations healthy, our animals protected, and our food systems resilient.
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