The initiative will strengthen coordination among members of the Quadripartite Alliance in the Americas (FAO, WOAH, PAHO/WHO and UNEP) and regional technical partners to support countries in addressing health threats that simultaneously affect people, animals, plants and the environment through the One Health approach.
Every year on 6 July, the international community marks World Zoonoses Day, raising awareness of the risks posed by diseases transmitted between animals and humans while promoting practices to prevent them.
This observance is particularly relevant given that an estimated 60 percent of all known human infectious diseases are zoonotic, while nearly 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate from domestic or wild animals.
These figures underscore the need for an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to addressing zoonotic diseases and other health threats by bringing together human health, animal health and environmental conservation.
Against this backdrop, the Quadripartite Alliance—comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—together with regional partners including the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Regional International Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA), today announced the signing of a Joint Declaration to strengthen regional coordination under the One Health approach in the Americas, marking the first regional agreement of its kind.
The Declaration calls for coordinated action to address health threats such as zoonotic diseases, food safety risks, and the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, ecosystem degradation and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is estimated to cause 1.27 million direct deaths each year worldwide and is associated with nearly 5 million indirect deaths. Foodborne diseases cause an estimated 1.5 million deaths annually, including 78,000 in the Americas.
“The health challenges faced by the region in recent years have highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships and coordinated action to achieve sustainable results. This is reflected in our ongoing efforts to address avian influenza and the New World screwworm outbreak across the region, helping protect the livelihoods of thousands of farming families. By signing this declaration, we are taking another important step towards strengthening regional cooperation and coordinated action to advance the implementation of the One Health approach,” said René Orellana Halkyer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Animal health systems are a critical first line of defence against disease outbreaks, particularly those with pandemic potential. However, WOAH’s latest State of the World’s Animal Health report shows that these systems remain underfunded. The One Health approach will only reach its full potential if animal health is fully integrated into public planning and investment. Across the Americas, WOAH has promoted this integrated approach for many years, advocating for greater recognition of the role of animal health. This declaration marks a milestone for the region by reaffirming our commitment to addressing shared challenges more effectively,” said Dr Francisco D’Alessio, WOAH Regional Representative for the Americas.
The Declaration recognizes the Americas’ long-standing tradition of intersectoral cooperation in public health, animal health, agriculture and the environment. At the same time, it acknowledges the need to further strengthen coordination among international organizations, governments, academia, civil society and the private sector to respond effectively to current and future challenges.
“For PAHO, the One Health approach is a strategic priority and an essential component of public health in the Americas, enabling an integrated response to current and emerging health threats. For decades, this approach has guided PAHO’s technical cooperation through programmes on communicable diseases at the human-animal interface, food safety, antimicrobial resistance and environmental public health, particularly through the work of our Regional Center for Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA) and the implementation of PAHO’s One Health Policy, which this year marks its fifth anniversary,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO.
For his part, Juan Bello, UNEP Regional Director and Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, stated:
“For UNEP, the One Health approach is essential to addressing environmental and health challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean in an integrated manner by recognizing the close interconnection between human, animal and environmental health. In the face of planetary threats such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, One Health strengthens the resilience of natural systems by prioritizing preventive rather than reactive action from an environmental perspective. It also reinforces regional cooperation to address the environmental dimensions of antimicrobial resistance while reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
The Joint Declaration calls on organizations, networks and stakeholders across the region to strengthen information-sharing and regional collaboration in support of Member States’ efforts to prioritize and implement One Health activities. This includes enhanced coordination, intersectoral collaboration and public-private partnerships in the areas of governance, legislation, institutional development, capacity building, and the exchange of data, evidence and knowledge.
Through this Declaration, the participating organizations reaffirm their commitment to promoting coordinated responses to health threats that transcend sectors and borders, contributing to the protection of the health of people, animals and ecosystems across the Americas.
