By Michael Gwarisa

Africa is stepping up its fight against zoonotic diseases with a bold new continental strategy that aims to transform how countries prevent, detect, and respond to health threats shared between humans, animals, and the environment. The Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Control Strategy 2025–2029, launched by the African Union (AU) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), marks a turning point in the continent’s public health journey.

Zoonotic diseases, those transmitted between animals and humans, have become a persistent and growing threat. From Ebola and Rift Valley Fever to more recent outbreaks like Marburg virus and avian influenza, Africa’s rich ecosystems and booming population growth have created fertile ground for these diseases to spread. The strategy acknowledges this reality, offering a clear, practical roadmap rooted in the One Health approach, which views human, animal, and environmental health as interconnected.

The goal is clear: reduce mortality, minimize morbidity, and avert the economic losses brought about by zoonotic diseases,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.

“Through this strategy, we are mobilizing political will and technical expertise to build resilient, responsive systems that can prevent and contain outbreaks before they escalate.”

The rise in zoonotic outbreaks across the continent is fueled by a complex mix of factors: rapid urbanization, destruction of wildlife habitats, increased demand for animal protein, and the effects of climate change. These changes have pushed people and animals into closer contact than ever before, creating conditions ripe for diseases to spill over from animals to humans.

Africa’s unique biodiversity and reliance on livestock and wildlife-based livelihoods also play a role, making zoonoses not only a health issue but an economic and food security concern. The strategy highlights the need to respond with urgency and coordination across sectors and borders.

The Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Control Strategy 2025–2029 is anchored in the AU’s Agenda 2063 and prioritizes five key pillars: enhanced surveillance and early detection of zoonotic outbreaks using integrated systems across human and animal health sectors; strengthened national health systems to ensure rapid and effective responses to zoonotic threats; research and innovation to improve diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments, while also strengthening understanding of how these diseases emerge and spread; cross-border collaboration to ensure coordinated action in response to outbreaks that do not respect political boundaries; and community engagement and partnerships, ensuring that local knowledge and frontline actors play a central role in detection and prevention.

Crucially, the strategy emphasizes that success hinges on multi-sectoral collaboration. Ministries of health, agriculture, environment, and wildlife must work hand-in-hand with civil society, the private sector, and international development partners.

“Zoonotic diseases are not just a veterinary or human health issue. They are a societal threat that demands a united response across every sector of our economies and governance systems,” said Dr. Kaseya.

The AU is calling on all Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and global partners to fully implement the strategy. This includes establishing or strengthening national One Health coordination platforms, mobilizing domestic resources, and aligning national policies with the continental framework.

The strategy also encourages countries to embed zoonotic disease prevention into national development plans, disaster preparedness policies, and food security programs. It envisions a future where outbreak-prone diseases are tackled not in isolation but through comprehensive systems that anticipate and prevent risks.

Despite the challenges ahead, limited resources, competing priorities, and fragile health infrastructure, the AU remains optimistic. The new strategy is both a wake-up call and a statement of intent. Africa will no longer remain reactive to zoonotic diseases but will instead lead a proactive, science-driven, and unified campaign against them.