
Hardwire One Health into EU law before ‘Disease X' strikes
That warning dominated the 'Preventing Disease X' conference in Brussels on 3 July, where experts called for EU policy to match the scale of the risk.
Their message was clear: if One Health is to be more than a buzzword, it must be hardwired into legislation, now, before Disease X strikes.
Most pandemics, including COVID-19, began with zoonotic pathogens, and the next one, dubbed Disease X, likely will too. Preventing it starts with animal health.
From concept to capability
Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director-General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), delivered a blunt assessment: 'One Health is not only a concept, but it is becoming a binding principle of global health programmes. But principles are not enough, and they need to be translated into actions, especially when the first signs of disease emerge. That's why veterinary services must be at the frontlines of pandemic prevention.'
She called the COVID-19 pandemic 'a governance stress test that exposed painful gaps in surveillance in the veterinary system and in public health systems and in multi-sectoral coordination.' Those gaps, she warned, still exist.
The problem isn't just technical. It's political.
Soubeyran said: 'We need to raise the profile of animal health and convince both political and private decision-makers that investment in animal health is very important. Animal health is not only an issue of animal health. It has an impact on trade, food security and public health and antimicrobial resistance and also impacts on biodiversity and environmental impact.'
Yet the conversation too often stops at ministries of health. 'Most of the time I speak about One Health in front of ministers of health, but not in front of ministers of agriculture or ministers of economy,' she said. 'I should speak with Ministers of Agriculture, Ministers of Economy, and Ministers of Finance as well.'
Without that broader engagement, she warned, the One Health agenda risks narrowing into 'One Human Health.'
Governance meets the laboratory
Jean-Baptiste Perrin of the European Commission's DG Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) acknowledged the governance gap, and outlined efforts to fix it. 'We have the preparedness strategy published in March, but additional strategies are coming,' he said.
Chief among them is a new EU stockpiling strategy, due on 8 July. While focused on medical countermeasures (MCMs), it has clear implications for zoonotic outbreaks.
'One is the stockpiling strategy, so explaining how the European stockpile can articulate with national, sometimes regional, or local stockpile for meaningful countermeasures,' Perrin explained.
Also in the pipeline is a strategy for novel countermeasures (NCMs), mapping the full value chain from innovation to deployment.
'One very important point in this strategy … [is] the governance and the coordination, the chain of command that needs to be clear in time of crisis.'
HERA is also working on threat-specific technical roadmaps. 'We're working on threat-specific roadmaps tailored to each pathogen and its most effective countermeasures.'
To support this, HERA is building links between human and veterinary institutes, a concrete expression of the One Health vision.
However, Perrin stressed that none of this will work unless member states collaborate. 'It's a complex task, especially given the differing competencies of Member States.'
Legislative levers remain limited
Asked whether the Critical Medicines Act (CMA) could expand HERA's remit to cover veterinary tools, Perrin acknowledged structural limits. 'There is a specific difficulty at European level to properly and fully implement the One Health approach … we do not have the same competency in public health and animal health. That said, it's worth discussing, and I think we need to keep the discussion open and reflect further on the mandate. But as of today we need to concentrate on human health,' he said.
The price of neglect
If money was missing from the conversation, Professor Jonathan Rushton supplied the spreadsheet.
'Economics is not just for advocacy,' the agricultural economist from the University of Edinburgh warned. 'Economics can help with the drivers of human behaviour … and it can support the assessment of the incentives about how we get people involved in vaccination campaigns.'
Rushton noted that animal health contributes to far more than farm productivity. 'We're providing animals that are healthy; they provide products that are safe to eat, in quantity, that actually provides important micronutrients and proteins … it's also an economic activity.'
Yet global spending still fails to reflect this importance. In a livestock sector worth an estimated $3.3 trillion annually, animal health spending barely reaches 2 percent of that. 'In 2021, $10 trillion was spent on human health. $70 billion was spent on animal health. It's minuscule.'
Prevention is not a luxury
Roxane Feller, Secretary-General of Animal Health Europe, closed the meeting by reinforcing what others had said throughout the day: investment in animal health is strategic. 'Animal health is not a cost, it's an investment.'
Political momentum is growing, she noted, citing a new Parliament report on livestock sustainability, and recent Council debates on vaccination and disease control. But the One Health gap remains.
'The missing elephant in the room is more on One Health. We still believe that there is a lack of understanding of this intrinsic correlation between human, animal and environmental health.'
That disconnect is felt most acutely on the ground.
Emily, a young dairy farmer from South Devon, shared the emotional and financial toll of losing over 130 cows to bovine tuberculosis (TB), wiping out decades of selective breeding and destabilising her entire business and family.
'TB's just not a disease when you're losing cows,' she said. 'It absolutely ruins your life.' Her story underscored what many experts argued throughout the day: that prevention must start with engagement, support, and investment, well before crisis hits.
From silos to systems
What emerged from the conference was not a lack of awareness, but a shared frustration at the fragmentation of the current system.
Governance remains weak, investment lags, and political engagement is too narrow. Surveillance, veterinary services, and pandemic response must be connected through legislation, budgets, and cross-sector cooperation.
As Soubeyran concluded, 'We cannot prevent every outbreak … but with sustained political will, coordinated investment, cross-sectoral action, we can stop the next pandemic, or at least we can get prepared to be more efficient.'
Europe must act before Disease X makes preparation irrelevant.
[Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Euractiv
a day ago
- Euractiv
Coordination key to tackling rise in livestock diseases, says WOAH
Surveillance, early warning systems and cross-border cooperation are essential to combat climate change, trade and pathogens adaptation that are driving a rise in animal diseases in Europe, says Montserrat Arroyo, Deputy Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). In recent years, European farmers have faced the emergence of previously unknown animal diseases, such as lumpy skin disease (LSD), and the return of others once eradicated, like foot-and-mouth disease. In Greece, sheep and goat pox has been declared a national emergency, while periodic waves of bird flu and African swine fever have been hitting the continent since 2014. According to Arroyo, the growing frequency of outbreaks requires adapting to a new reality. What follows is an edited transcript. What factors contribute to the emergence of diseases such as LSD in Europe, as seen in France and Italy? In the case of LSD, we don't yet know exactly where it originated. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. More broadly, the risk of disease incursions is rising due to climate change, trade evolutions, and changes in pathogen dynamics. These three factors are driving the emergence of diseases in places where they did not previously exist. Could you elaborate on how these factors impact animal diseases? For LSD, climate change certainly plays a role. It's a vector-borne disease, primarily transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks or flies. Temperature changes can enable these vectors to appear in areas where they were not previously present. In some cases, even extreme winds can transport them from one region to another. What about trade? Other possible origins of these outbreaks include transmission by an infected animal from an affected country or by imported equipment that has not been properly disinfected. We are seeing diseases emerge as a result of shifting consumption patterns. As populations move, their consumption habits and demand for certain products or animals change - and so do the associated risks. Generally, we hope all countries apply the correct trade measures. However, travellers sometimes bring in products from their countries without complying with the sanitary restrictions designed to prevent this. In some countries, we're seeing an increase in illegal trade, which further increases the risks. You also mentioned changes in pathogen dynamics. What does that mean? Diseases evolve and adapt. Take avian influenza, for example: it used to only affect domestic poultry, but it has since evolved and spread to certain wild bird populations. This increases the risk to domestic animals when they come into contact with wildlife. We just need to monitor how pathogens are moving, understand how they affect different species, and try to respond accordingly. We've also seen the emergence of other diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, and bluetongue. Is this part of a broader upward trend? There have always been epidemics. But yes, we can say there has been an increase in outbreaks of diseases that were not previously present in the region. For example, it is the first time LSD has appeared in Continental Europe. Do these outbreaks have a lasting impact on farms, and do they pose a growing threat to the EU's food security? There are two types of impact: a direct one on producers, who are often severely affected, and a broader one on the country, which can be less severe if the disease is quickly contained. Take the example of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany. Fortunately, the impact was minor and well controlled because the disease was quickly identified and contained. But some countries are unable to respond as quickly. This is sometimes because they do not have access to vaccines or because their veterinary services are not sufficiently supported. In Europe, resilience is quite good. What does the WOAH recommend for managing disease outbreaks? The only way to prevent a costly outbreak is to invest in veterinary services. In addition, we recommend establishing strong surveillance and early warning systems. It's also important to strengthen biosecurity, implement vector control measures, and carry out vaccination. And, of course, coordination between countries is essential. Is the EU's regionalist approach, which focuses on affected regions rather than entire countries, a good method? The regionalisation approach is an excellent tool. It can even be used to open markets when only half of a country is free of a particular disease. The EU did not apply this measure to Brazil when it blocked poultry and meat exports to the bloc due to bird flu. What is your view on this? Europe has very strict regulations on regionalisation. These apply to third countries but are based on the EU's risk assessment and the information those countries provide. (adm, de)


Euractiv
a day ago
- Euractiv
Ireland publishes National Drugs Strategy as ministers battle rising cocaine use
Dublin - Ireland's health ministers have released an independent evaluation of the country's National Drugs Strategy (NDS), 'Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017–2025', highlighting progress in harm reduction and international alignment, while also identifying areas for structural reform. The report, commissioned by the Department of Health and conducted by Grant Thornton, assesses the strategy across four key domains: impact, governance, performance, and coherence with international policy frameworks. It fulfils a commitment made in the Programme for Government and arrives as policymakers prepare to draft a successor strategy by the end of 2025. The evaluation finds that the NDS has made 'notable progress in advancing a health-led approach,' particularly through the expansion of harm reduction measures such as naloxone distribution, needle exchange programmes, and drug-checking services. On governance, the report cites the establishment of strategic implementation groups and enhanced interagency collaboration at the local level as key achievements. These developments, it notes, have enabled 'more responsive and context-sensitive service delivery.' Performance metrics show improved data collection and monitoring. Shifting trends Cocaine emerged as the most common primary drug reported in treatment cases in 2024, underscoring a shift in Ireland's drug use profile. Ireland's latest drug use figures, published in 2025 by the Health Research Board, reveal a shifting landscape in substance use, with cannabis and cocaine remaining the most prevalent illicit drugs. Based on data from the 'Healthy Ireland Survey 2023', 7.8% of adults reported using cannabis in the past year, while cocaine use rose to 4.4%, particularly among those aged 25–34. Sedative and tranquilliser use stood at 2.5%, with higher rates among women and older adults. The report also highlights a rise in polydrug use and a strong correlation between drug use and other risk behaviours, including tobacco and alcohol consumption. EU drug strategy alignment Internationally, the strategy is deemed well-aligned with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan 2021–2025, with Ireland's contributions to early warning systems and multilateral research initiatives receiving particular praise. However, the review also identifies persistent challenges, including fragmented delivery of prevention and early intervention services, and a need for alternatives to coercive sanctions. It outlines 10 strategic recommendations to guide the next phase of policy development. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill welcomed the report's focus on equity and access, noting alignment with ongoing Sláintecare reforms. 'The establishment of new HSE health regions presents a valuable opportunity to tailor drug treatment services to population needs and to ensure that both existing and new funding is allocated effectively and transparently,' she said. Carroll MacNeill also highlighted the importance of cross-border and EU collaboration: 'The upcoming Irish Presidency of the EU offers a unique opportunity to foster greater collaboration between member states, the EU Drugs Agency, and civil society organisations.' She added, 'Together, we can better address the health and preparedness challenges posed by an evolving and dynamic drugs market.' Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor reaffirmed her commitment to a health-led approach, including the proposed health diversion scheme. She welcomed 'the strong endorsement in the evaluation of the health-led response to drug use, including the proposed health diversion scheme for people found in possession of drugs for personal use. I am determined that the scheme will commence as soon as possible, in line with the commitments in the Programme for Government.' Next steps Murnane O'Connor announced the formation of a steering group to draft the next strategy. 'It is my ambition that the successor national drugs strategy will further strengthen the health-led approach to drug use by addressing the health and social needs of people who use drugs, reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities associated with drugs, and supporting recovery from drug addiction,' she said. The review's 10 recommendations include enhancing culturally sensitive services, increasing community engagement, aligning service delivery with regional needs, and investing in monitoring and research systems. It also calls for stronger integration of alcohol treatment services and continued development of alternatives to criminal sanctions. The evaluation follows the 2024 report of the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use, which issued 36 recommendations spanning prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. These remain under active consideration by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Drug Use and are expected to shape the forthcoming strategy. The EU Drugs Strategy 2021–2025 set out a robust, health-oriented framework to tackle drug-related issues across member states, balancing supply reduction with demand-side interventions. Central to the strategy has been harm reduction, international cooperation, and evidence-based policymaking, underpinned by commitments to human rights, gender equality, and public health. Its strategic goals have included enhancing security, expanding access to treatment, and reinforcing governance structures. The strategy also aligns with UN conventions and supports multilateral engagement. Its foremost priority is the disruption and dismantling of high-risk organised crime groups linked to drug trafficking, particularly those operating within or targeting the EU, and addressing their connections to broader security threats. By Brian Maguire


Euractiv
3 days ago
- Euractiv
A vaccine against cancer – but not for everyone
Some EU countries are beating HPV-related cancers, but others fail to provide life-saving measures. When Kim Hulscher sits upright at a table, her right leg swells. This is a lasting effect of lymphedema, a common cancer-related condition she developed after her cervical cancer treatment. 'I have to buy shoes that are twice my size because my foot won't fit into normal ones,' she says. Now, more than a decade after her diagnosis, she is speaking at the European Parliament during a conference titled 'Accelerating Progress Towards the EU's Goal of Eliminating HPV Cancers,' hosted by the European Cancer Organisation and the vice-chair of the Health Committee, Tilly Metz. Hulscher is there as co-chair of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology – and as a cancer survivor committed to helping spare others what she went through. Hulscher's cervical cancer, like many others, was caused by a type of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can often be prevented through vaccination and detected early through screening. Far from elimination Yet Europe is still far from stopping these cancers. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer elimination means reducing incidence to fewer than four cases per 100,000 women. The most optimistic projections suggest that Europe could achieve this goal by 2050. In 2022, the ratio stood at 56 per 100,000 across the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Around 130,000 women were newly diagnosed, and 14,000 died. HPV-linked head and neck cancers also remain significant causes of mortality. In 2022, 86,000 people were diagnosed, 74% of them men. These cancers caused about 26,000 deaths across the region. Vaccination at a young age is the most effective way to prevent such deaths. Once sexually active, HPV infection is nearly unavoidable. 'It is as contagious as a cold,' said Hulscher. Another participant put it more vividly: 'HPV is like glitter – it gets everywhere: in your car, in your pockets. So it doesn't have to be penetrative sex to catch it.' Often, HPV infections clear up on their own without causing lasting damage, and only about a dozen of the over 200 known HPV types are cancer-causing. However, the only sure way to avoid infection with these is to live like a nun or a monk. Last year, the European Council adopted recommendations urging countries to fully vaccinate at least 90% of girls and significantly increase uptake among boys. All EU member states now offer gender-neutral vaccination. Only five EEA countries – Portugal, Sweden, Cyprus, Iceland, and Norway – have reached the 90% coverage target for girls. 'There is a lot of work to be done,' said Karam Adel, principal expert at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. He also noted a 'huge disparity between West and East,' with some countries reporting female coverage well below 50%. The price of inaction According to conference participants, vaccine scepticism, limited registries, and underfunded national vaccination programmes remain major roadblocks. The benefits of prevention, however, are not only medical but also financial. In a study involving six European countries (Romania, Poland, France, Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany), Maarten J. Postma, professor of medical sciences and an expert in health economics, estimated potential savings of €2.75 billion between 2030 and 2060. All it would take is for these countries to reach the 90% HPV vaccination target by 2030, along with WHO-recommended screening and treatment goals. 'We should conceive vaccination – and prevention in general – not as a cost but rather as an investment,' said Postma. Still, awareness remains low. "Consistently, studies show that whether it's children, young adults, or parents, people are unaware of the consequences of HPV infections," said Adel. He also stressed the importance of ongoing screening, even for those who are vaccinated, as vaccines do not cover all high-risk HPV types. Metz echoed the call for stronger education. "To truly eliminate HPV, we need progressive, inclusive, and scientifically accurate education – because empowering young people with knowledge is one of the most effective forms of prevention," she said. (de)