One Health
3 Apr 2026
WVA Position Statement on the Global Climate Change Emergency
The statement recognises climate change as a global emergency with profound and far-reaching impacts on animal, human, and ecosystem health. It affirms the role of veterinarians as health professionals and advocates for animal welfare, public health, and environmental stewardship, highlighting their responsibility to support climate mitigation and resilience through evidence-based practice. Within a One Health framework, veterinarians are encouraged to actively engage in multisectoral and transdisciplinary collaborations, strengthening community engagement and contributing to global efforts aimed at preventing future pandemics. Their involvement is essential in bridging animal, human, and environmental health disciplines to address complex health threats at their source.
One Health
1 Apr 2026
WVA Position Statement on Zoonoses Emergence in Relation to Wildlife Disruption and Trade
The statement highlights the role of wildlife habitat encroachment and wildlife trade as key drivers in the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. It underscores that veterinarians, as trusted professionals with expertise in animal health, welfare, and public health, are uniquely positioned to advocate for biodiversity conservation and responsible wildlife management. Within a One Health framework, veterinarians are encouraged to actively engage in multisectoral and transdisciplinary collaborations, strengthening community engagement and contributing to global efforts aimed at preventing future pandemics. Their involvement is essential in bridging animal, human, and environmental health disciplines to address complex health threats at their source.
One Health
28 Feb 2026
WVA Position Statement on Veterinarians as Healthcare Professionals
The statement recognises veterinarians as trusted health professionals whose work supports physical, mental, and social well-being through animal health, welfare, food safety, and the human–animal bond. Beyond clinical care, veterinarians contribute significantly to public and environmental health, disease prevention, and the protection of safe food systems under the One Health framework. Their role is particularly critical in managing zoonotic diseases, supporting sustainable agriculture, and strengthening livelihoods—especially in low- and middle-income countries. The WVA calls for greater recognition of veterinarians as essential healthcare professionals contributing to healthier societies worldwide.
One Health
21 Jul 2025
WVA Position on Food and Nutrition Security
Veterinarians significantly contribute to the four pillars of food and nutrition security: availability, access, use, and stability. Husbandry advice, herd health evaluations, animal pasture interactions, and other activities performed by food-animal veterinary practitioners help to ensure global food security and adequacy of human nutrition. The World Veterinary Association (WVA) supports the promotion of the veterinary role in achieving global food and nutrition security. This includes the engagement of veterinary experts and their contributions to organisations involved in global food security such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Global Action Programme on Food Security & Nutrition, Zero Hunger Initiatives and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and other such future programmes and projects. Veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals play key roles in mitigating and eliminating the public health risks of Taenia solium (T. solium) and Echinococcus granulosus infections by way of improving public education, surveillance, improved sanitary practices, and advocacy. In regions where these diseases are endemic, veterinarians play a particularly critical role in community engagement, treatment of host animals and public health initiatives.
One Health
29 May 2025
WVA Position Statement on Cysticercosis and Cystic Echinococcosis (Hydatidosis)
Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease that has severe public health implications and affects the quality of life of people in areas where it is endemic. In pigs, the intermediate host, it is caused by ingesting eggs (ova) of Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm (cestode), shed in the feces of an infected human, the definitive host. Veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals play key roles in mitigating and eliminating the public health risks of Taenia solium (T. solium) and Echinococcus granulosus infections by way of improving public education, surveillance, improved sanitary practices, and advocacy. In regions where these diseases are endemic, veterinarians play a particularly critical role in community engagement, treatment of host animals and public health initiatives.
One Health
19 Jan 2025
WVA Position Statement on Vaccine Preparedness
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) supports the view that having a robust animal vaccination preparedness plan will help a country respond quickly to emerging and reemerging animal disease threats.
One Health
30 Dec 2023
WVA Position Statement on One Health
The WVA advocates and supports the advancement of One Health (OH). The health and well-being of people, animals, plants, and their interconnected ecosystems depend on strategic, effective and sustainable collaborative partnerships among professions, disciplines and societies.
One Health
20 Jul 2023
WVA position regarding Dog-Mediated Rabies
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) supports the view that dog-mediated rabies is an entirely preventable disease and that veterinarians have a key role to play in eliminating this risk to human health, and animal health and welfare.
One Health
15 Mar 2023
WVA Position Statement on One Health Education
WVA recognizes that the One Health concep should be present in veterinary education. WVA encourages veterinary schools to conduct a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach with a One Health mind-set throughout the curriculum.
One Health
17 Dec 2021
WVA Factsheet on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus
Avian Influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild birds.