News - World Veterinary Association

5 Mar 2026

Animal Health at the Core of Pandemic Prevention: Recommendations for the 2026 UN High-Level Meeting

As preparations advance towards the 2026 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR), attention is turning from high-level political commitments to concrete implementation. Building on the 2023 Political Declaration and in parallel with the Pandemic Agreement negotiations and the AMR Political Declaration follow-up, stakeholders are now seeking to ensure that One Health is effectively operationalised. In this context, Action for Animal Health, with the support of the World Veterinary Association, has published a set of targeted recommendations calling for animal health to be firmly embedded within the 2026 Declaration.

26 Feb 2026

WVA Announces Council for the term 2026–2028

The WVA is pleased to announce the outcome of its recent elections and introduce the newly elected Council for the term 2026–2028. Following the second round of voting for the position of President-Elect, Dr Olatunji Nasir has been elected as WVA President-Elect. At the end of April, Dr Isao Kurauchi will assume the Presidency of the WVA, working alongside the newly elected Council to advance the voice and impact of the veterinary profession worldwide.

24 Feb 2026

WVA theme for World Veterinary Day 2026 – Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health

WVA is happy to celebrate World Veterinary Day (WVD) 2026 with the theme “Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health” will be the official observed globally on 25 April 2026. Selected by the WVA Council, the 2026 theme highlights the critical and systemic role veterinarians play in safeguarding food safety, food security, public health, and animal health worldwide. From farm to fork, veterinarians are on the frontline of ensuring that food of animal origin is safe, nutritious, and responsibly produced.

10 Feb 2026

Celebrating Excellence in Global Veterinary Leadership: WVA Global Veterinary Awards 2026

The World Veterinary Association (WVA) is delighted to announce that the nominations for the WVA Global Veterinary Awards 2026 is now open! Join us in celebrating outstanding veterinarians whose work is shaping the future of the profession worldwide. These prestigious Awards honour veterinarians whose contributions have had a meaningful and lasting impact on animal, human, and environmental health, reflecting the core values and strategic priorities of the WVA.

5 Feb 2026

Veterinary Leadership at UNEA-7: One Health, Environmental Action and Antimicrobial Resistance

The World Veterinary Environmental Alliance (WVEA) participated in the 21st Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum and the Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) through its close partnership with, and accreditation granted by, the World Veterinary Association (WVA). The meetings were held in Nairobi in December 2025 under the theme “Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet.” UNEA-7 reaffirmed the urgency of coordinated multilateral action to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, adopting 11 resolutions alongside a Ministerial Declaration and UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy (2026–2029).

30 Jan 2026

WVA moderates UN dialogue on prevention and One Health ahead of the 2026 High-Level Meeting on PPPR

The World Veterinary Association (WVA) co-hosted the side meeting “Multisectoral Perspectives on Preventing the Next Pandemic” on 23 January 2026 at the Baha’i International Community’s UN Office in New York, contributing to preparations for the 2026 UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (HLM-PPPR). WVA Councillor for North Africa and Middle East, Dr Anis Bouraba, moderated the exchange between Member States and institutional partners, guiding a structured discussion on how prevention and the One Health approach are currently prioritised and operationalised within national and multilateral PPPR efforts.

22 Jan 2026

President de Jong joins Mexican veterinary leaders in Monterrey for FedMVZ National Convention

From January 20 to 22, 2026, veterinary professionals from across Mexico and beyond gathered in Monterrey, Nuevo León for the Convención Nacional 2026, hosted by the Federación de Colegios y Asociaciones de Médicos Veterinarios Zootecnistas de México (FedMVZ) at CINTERMEX in Monterrey. The annual convention — a cornerstone event for the Mexican veterinary community — brought together veterinarians, industry experts, educators, students, and leaders from the public and private sectors for three days of conferences, workshops, and professional exchange. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with national sector leaders, explore current topics in animal health and welfare, and participate in specialized training sessions.

19 Jan 2026

WVAC2026 RACE Accreditation Application Underway

The World Veterinary Association is pleased to announce that the 41st World Veterinary Association Congress (WVAC2026) is currently under application for RACE (Registry of Approved Continuing Education) accreditation. Once approved, eligible veterinary professionals will be able to earn continuing education (CE) credits per hour of educational participation during the congress. As one of the world’s leading global veterinary congresses, WVAC2026 is committed to advancing lifelong learning and professional development for veterinarians and veterinary professionals worldwide. RACE accreditation reflects this commitment by ensuring that educational content meets internationally recognized standards for quality and relevance.

13 Jan 2026

WVA, IVSA and Dr Neil Vezeau sign an MoU to develop Global Veterinary Education Establishments Index

The World Veterinary Association (WVA), the International Veterinary Students’ Association (IVSA) and Dr Neil Vezeau (US) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further develop and maintain a global Veterinary Education Establishments (VEE) Index, a publicly accessible database of institutions offering veterinary education worldwide. The project which is led by Dr. Neil Vezeau, a veterinarian and public health professional, builds on earlier efforts by the WVA, which has previously maintained a list of veterinary education establishments, and aggregates existing regional and national lists developed by organizations such as WVA, WOAH, AVMA, and others. The initiative is bringing them together into a single, transparent global database. and represents a significant expansion toward a more comprehensive and verified global resource.

19 Dec 2025

WVA Announces Candidates for the 2026 Elections

The World Veterinary Association (WVA) is pleased to announce the slate of candidates for the 2026 Elections, including the positions of President-Elect and Councillors. The upcoming elections mark another important milestone in the Association’s continued commitment to strong governance, global representation, and leadership within the veterinary profession.