Alarmed by the continuing threat of infectious diseases that can spread between animals and humans in Asia and the Pacific, three international organizations have announced they are increasing their coordination to respond more effectively across the region.

From rabies to zoonotic influenza, zoonotic diseases pose a threat to human and animal health, and there is a growing urgency for the Asia-Pacific Region to better collaborate and coordinate efforts in response, announced the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the World Health Organization (WHO). These three organizations, known as the Tripartite, also noted that food safety issues are a public health concern that need to be addressed from production through to consumption. In addition, the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the region’s capacity to prevent, control and treat these diseases. Action is required by all countries across all relevant government sectors, the private sector and society.