One Health Summit in France: WHO Unveils Global Network, Rabies Target and Avian Influenza Strategy
At the One Health Summit on April 7, 2026, the World Health Organization and international partners announced a package of new initiatives to better integrate human, animal and environmental health to prevent future crises. The summit, hosted by France on World Health Day, set out actionable steps aimed at strengthening early detection, coordinated response and country-level delivery. Leaders framed the agenda around scientific guidance and multilateral cooperation to reduce the risk of zoonotic and ecosystem-driven threats.
WHO announces four major One Health actions
WHO presented four headline measures designed to translate the One Health concept into operational programs that work at country level. The initiatives focus on institution-building, scientific capacity, disease elimination efforts and a unified response to avian influenza. Officials said the measures are intended to reduce the window between detection of a threat and an effective multisectoral response.
New Global Network of One Health Institutions planned
A central commitment is the planned launch of a Global Network of One Health Institutions to coordinate implementation of the One Health Joint Plan of Action. WHO will invite Quadripartite partners to participate and leverage academic and research capacities to produce practical tools and training. The network is described as a delivery mechanism that will translate global guidance into country-focused support and peer-learning through platforms such as the WHO Academy.
Expansion of One Health scientific advisory capacity
To strengthen the scientific foundation for policy, WHO and partners extended the mandate of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel through 2027 and outlined a new phase for 2027–2029. The expanded advisory role will shape global research priorities, support implementation of the joint plan and provide evidence-based advocacy. Officials emphasized that robust science and independent expert advice will guide risk assessment, preparedness planning and coordinated action.
Renewed push to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030
WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Institut Pasteur announced a renewed campaign to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030. The initiative will prioritize political commitment, community-based surveillance and targeted research in endemic countries. Leaders framed rabies elimination as a test case for strengthening broader One Health surveillance and response systems that protect vulnerable populations, especially children.
Strategic framework for avian influenza coordination
A new Strategic Framework for Collaboration on avian influenza was presented to harmonize surveillance, risk assessment and response across sectors. The framework aims to replace fragmented national efforts with a coordinated One Health approach that addresses impacts on public health, food security, livelihoods and biodiversity. Officials warned that better integration across human and animal health systems is essential to reduce the chance of animal viruses spilling over to people.
WHO to chair strengthened Quadripartite collaboration
WHO will assume the Chairmanship of the Quadripartite partnership alongside FAO, WOAH and UNEP, with a mandate to streamline governance and sharpen country-level impact. Under WHO’s chairmanship, the Quadripartite plans to align efforts on a focused set of high-impact priorities, improve advocacy, and accelerate norm-setting and evidence generation. Partners said the leadership change seeks to ensure more coordinated technical support for Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Environment.
Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres convenes
Concurrently, WHO convened its first Global Forum of Collaborating Centres from April 7–9, drawing more than 800 centres from over 80 countries. The Forum brought together high-level representatives, including the French health minister and ministers from Germany, Indonesia and South Africa, to discuss joint research, data sharing and capacity building. Participants emphasized the need for sustained scientific cooperation to convert One Health commitments into measurable results.
The summit underscored the scale of the task: environmental degradation, unsafe food and water, biodiversity loss and unequal access to care all increase the likelihood of outbreaks that cross species and borders. Delegates noted that a majority of known human infectious diseases have animal origins and that emerging threats frequently arise at the human-animal-environment interface. Summit leaders said the programs announced are intended to reduce both human suffering and the economic disruption caused by large-scale health emergencies.
The initiatives announced at the One Health Summit are expected to feed into broader international discussions, including follow-up at G7 meetings, and to inform bilateral and regional preparedness efforts. Officials called for increased investment in surveillance, stronger community engagement and a practical focus on delivering tools and training where they are most needed. They stressed that science-led cooperation and coordinated funding will be essential to move from plans to results.
International and national actors will now be watching how quickly the Global Network, scientific expansions and targeted disease campaigns translate into strengthened systems on the ground. WHO and its partners signaled an appetite for measurable country-level outcomes and regular reporting on progress. The summit closed with a renewed call to treat human, animal and environmental health as an interconnected system requiring sustained, cross-sectoral action.
