Why Africa Is Rethinking Veterinary Policy to Fight Zoonotic Tuberculosis

In March 2026, global animal and human health institutions renewed attention to a largely overlooked disease affecting both livestock and people across Africa: zoonotic tuberculosis. The renewed focus is not simply a scientific concern. It reflects a growing policy shift that recognizes veterinary systems as essential to protecting public health.

On 17 March 2026, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the World Health Organization convened an expert webinar titled “Advancing the One Health Approach for Control of Zoonotic Tuberculosis in Africa.” The event was organized in the lead-up to World Tuberculosis Day and brought together veterinarians, public health experts, national tuberculosis programme managers, researchers, and development partners to discuss coordinated responses to the disease across the continent.

Although tuberculosis is widely viewed as a human disease, a significant portion of infections originate in animals, particularly cattle.

The Overlooked Disease at the Human–Animal Interface

Zoonotic tuberculosis is primarily caused by Mycobacterium bovis, the pathogen responsible for Bovine Tuberculosis. The disease circulates in livestock populations but can infect humans through several pathways, including direct contact with infected animals or the consumption of unpasteurised milk and dairy products.

In many African pastoral and smallholder livestock systems, these risk factors are common. Cattle often live in close proximity to households, and milk is frequently consumed raw. These practices increase the possibility of cross-species transmission.

Despite these risks, zoonotic tuberculosis remains underdiagnosed and underreported. One reason is that standard tuberculosis diagnostic methods used in hospitals do not always differentiate between the bacteria responsible for human TB and infections caused by Mycobacterium bovis.

This diagnostic gap has led global health authorities to describe zoonotic tuberculosis as a neglected dimension of the global TB epidemic.

A Global Strategy That Still Needs Stronger Implementation

The renewed attention in 2026 builds on earlier global initiatives. In 2017, four international institutions released the Global Roadmap for Zoonotic Tuberculosis. The initiative was led by the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

The roadmap called for stronger collaboration between human health and veterinary sectors. Its key objectives included improving surveillance in livestock populations, strengthening laboratory capacity, and raising awareness about food safety and milk hygiene.

However, implementation has progressed unevenly in many regions, including parts of Africa. Limited funding, weak disease surveillance systems, and insufficient coordination between agriculture and health ministries have slowed progress.

The March 2026 expert meeting was therefore intended to assess progress and renew technical and policy commitment to addressing the disease.

Why Veterinary Systems Matter

One of the most important conclusions from the discussions is that veterinary systems are central to preventing zoonotic tuberculosis.

Because the disease originates in livestock populations, veterinarians are often the first professionals capable of detecting it. Their work includes testing cattle herds for infection, monitoring disease patterns in livestock populations, conducting meat inspection at slaughterhouses, and supporting safe milk production practices.

The World Organisation for Animal Health provides international standards for the surveillance and control of mammalian tuberculosis in animals through its Terrestrial Animal Health Code and diagnostic manuals for veterinary laboratories.

These guidelines help countries design surveillance and control programs suited to their livestock systems and economic realities.

Lessons Emerging From African Countries

The March 2026 discussions also highlighted experiences from several African countries working to strengthen their response to zoonotic tuberculosis.

Experts presented country perspectives from Algeria, Madagascar, and Ethiopia, demonstrating how national veterinary and public health authorities are attempting to coordinate surveillance and disease control strategies.

These experiences show that controlling zoonotic tuberculosis requires more than scientific knowledge. It depends on functioning veterinary services, integrated disease reporting systems, collaboration between ministries, and sustained investment in livestock health monitoring.

Without these systems in place, infections in cattle populations can circulate for long periods before appearing in human populations.

A Growing Emphasis on One Health

The broader significance of the March 2026 initiative lies in its emphasis on the One Health approach. This framework recognizes that human health, animal health, and environmental health are closely connected.

Under this approach, veterinarians monitor diseases in livestock and wildlife populations, medical professionals diagnose and treat human infections, and policymakers coordinate surveillance and response across sectors.

The collaboration between the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization reflects a growing consensus that emerging health threats cannot be managed effectively by isolated institutions.

A Policy Wake-Up Call for Africa

For Africa, where livestock production supports millions of livelihoods and plays a key role in food security, zoonotic tuberculosis highlights the importance of strong veterinary systems.

The disease illustrates how gaps in livestock health surveillance can translate directly into public health risks.

Strengthening veterinary infrastructure through improved laboratory capacity, expanded field surveillance, and better coordination with human health authorities is therefore becoming an increasingly important policy priority.

In this sense, the March 2026 discussions around zoonotic tuberculosis represent something larger than a disease control effort. They reflect a broader shift in global health thinking. Veterinarians are increasingly being recognized not only as agricultural professionals but also as critical actors in protecting human health.