New Director of WOAH Takes on Avian Influenza Challenge as Global Health Threatens Animal and Human Well-Being

Emmanuelle Soubeyran, a French national and head of the country’s veterinary services, has been elected as the director general of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on May 29th, 2024. She succeeds Monique Eloit at a time when the world is facing a severe outbreak of avian influenza. The virus has spread to mammals, including dairy cows in the United States, raising concerns about a potential mutation that could lead to human-to-human transmission.

Soubeyran was chosen as the candidate for the European Union and also serves as France’s deputy director general for food. She has extensive experience in dealing with avian influenza, having been responsible for implementing France’s poultry vaccination program, which was the first of its kind in Europe. In her new role, she aims to strengthen partnerships with other international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations’ FAO to foster closer collaboration between animal and human health.

Before her election, Soubeyran expressed her main goals of encouraging private funding to combat animal diseases and promote research in the field. Her election comes at a critical time for global health, and she is focused on leading the WOAH to navigate the current challenges in animal health and disease prevention. Soubeyran is committed to ensuring that WOAH plays a key role in addressing global health issues that affect both animals and humans.