WHO and WOAH are jointly hosting a webinar to mark World Tuberculosis Day which is observed on 24th March 2026 bringing together human and animal health experts, national programme managers, and development partner to advance the One Health response to zoonotic tuberculosis (zTB) across Africa.
Zoonotic tuberculosis, caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), and principally Mycobacterium bovis which remains a neglected yet significant burden in the community and in livestock. Transmission occurs primarily through direct contact with infected livestock or consumption of unpasteurised milk and dairy products, disproportionately affecting pastoral and smallholder farming communities in low- and middle-income countries.
In 2017, WHO, WOAH, FAO, and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) jointly published the Global Roadmap for Zoonotic Tuberculosis. Seven years on, implementation of this roadmap across remains uneven, constrained by weak inter-sectoral coordination, diagnostic gaps, and limited investment.
WOAH has provided internationally recognised standards for the diagnosis, surveillance, and control of mammalian tuberculosis in animals through two key instruments: Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Chapter 8.12. and Terrestrial Manual, Chapter 3.1.13. In 2024, WOAH published guidelines on control of MTBC infection animal in livestock to provide guidance to for those countries who are looking for alternative approaches to test and slaughter to reduce the burden of the disease in animals.
This webinar provides a timely platform to review progress, and look at the country level evidence from Algeria, Madagascar, and best practises in Ethiopia to mobilise renewed political and financial commitment for zoonotic tuberculosis.
