Transboundary animal diseases (TADs) remain a major threat to animal health, food security, livelihoods, trade, and regional biosecurity in South-East Asia. In recent years, the region has faced significant challenges from diseases such as african swine fever (ASF), lumpy skin disease (LSD), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), rabies, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and, more recently, peste des petits ruminants (PPR). These disease incursions have caused substantial economic losses, disrupted livestock production systems, and highlighted the need for stronger regional cooperation and coordinated prevention and control measures.
To address these challenges, ASEAN Members, with support from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the ASEAN Secretariat, and regional experts, developed and endorsed a series of ASEAN strategies for ASF, LSD, PPR, and Rabies. The establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ) has further strengthened regional coordination, providing a platform for collaboration among Members and partners. As part of ongoing efforts to advance the implementation of these strategies, ACCAHZ and WOAH convened the ASEAN TADs Meeting on 31 July 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It offered a forum to review progress, discuss emerging disease threats, and reinforce regional cooperation for the prevention and control of priority animal diseases in ASEAN.
