World Zoonoses Day – Saturday 6 July

World Zoonoses Day is observed annually on 6 July, to raise awareness about zoonotic diseases and highlight the need for collaborative efforts between veterinarians, doctors, ecologists, and other professionals, to effectively prevent and respond to zoonotic diseases.

Its importance is brought into sharp focus this year with the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in a small number of poultry farms in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the current strains of avian influenza do not appear to transmit easily between humans. If avian influenza becomes a significant threat to our human population, the Australian Government will activate the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza. The plan provides direction for all jurisdiction agencies and emergency services to manage the threat.

Australia has a detailed plan for responding to emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreaks called AUSVETPLAN. This plan has been used in recent years to respond to equine influenza and Hendra virus outbreaks.

As part of the One Health model, veterinarians play key roles in disease surveillance, biosecurity, food security, epidemiology, public health, and more. This runs the full gamut from general practice small animal vets diagnosing zoonotic diseases in companion animals to nationwide, coordinated efforts at managing outbreaks in large-scale production animal industries. Veterinarians have been urged to register their interest in providing support and assistance in the event of a large EAD incursion in Australia.

The AVA has a comprehensive policy on zoonotic diseases. The policy states:

1. All veterinarians should be prepared to take appropriate action to minimise the impact of zoonotic diseases on both animal and human health.
2. Appropriately trained veterinarians should be included in investigative, legislative and advisory groups focused on zoonotic disease identification, prevention and management.
3. The development of strong One Health collaborations with government backing and legal authority, engaging veterinary, medical, public health and environmental professionals should be prioritised.

The AVA also developed a policy in 2022 calling for establishment of an Australian Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), and we welcome the current government’s commitment to work on this initiative.

AVA leaders met recently with Dr Kendall Crocker, Acting Director for the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC), and emphasised the AVA’s support for the integration of veterinarians into the One Health framework. We are delighted that Dr Crocker will be a keynote speaker at the 2025 AVA Conference in Sydney.

In celebration of World Zoonoses Day, we wish to say thanks to the Australian veterinarians and veterinary professionals for their crucial role in enhancing global health security and preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Read more about significant EAD threats to Australia and access extensive resources and training for veterinarians.