Kuwait Hosts GCC Summit on Combating Zoonotic Animal Diseases
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Alaina
- . June 13, 2025
- . Update: June 13, 2025 3:35 pm
Kuwait recently hosted a regional summit inviting the key decision-makers from GCC countries to deter the growing threat from animal and zoonotic diseases which can transmit from animals to humans. The event was organized by the Kuwait Institute for scientific research in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The meeting focused on ways to advance early detection, response, and control of animal and zoonotic diseases. Experts reiterated the need to improve veterinary systems, and to improve regional collaboration. Given that estimates of over 70 percent of new infections in humans are due to infections from animals, the need to act collaboratively is apparent.
The IAEA’s ZODIAC initiative was discussed and will support countries to identify and control outbreaks caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Officials provided updates on their national plans to improve lab capacity, share data, and allow for quicker cross-border response to outbreaks across GCC countries.
The summit clearly established that improving human health aligns with addressing animal health constraints, and as the GCC countries worked on pledges to improve food safety and animal welfare, they collectively worked toward a healthy and safe future.
