Experts Convened for 9th World One Health Congress
The four-day international event in Lisbon gathered over 1,300 professionals to advance global biosecurity collaboration.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Health — General
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The 9th World One Health Congress took place in Lisbon in early September 2026, bringing together over 1,300 experts from 107 countries. The event, held under the patronage of UNESCO, concluded with a new Joint Statement and Call to Action for One Health implementation.
Why it matters
This gathering addressed the urgent need for better integration of biohealth threats and bolstered biosecurity measures worldwide. By launching a formal Call to Action, the community seeks to unify its collective voice to improve cross-sectoral coordination.
The Congress hosted 1,300 experts from 107 countries over a four-day period. While the event focused on biosecurity, the specific funding mechanisms for future integration efforts remain under review.
The players
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture.
Shauna Thomas
She was honored at the 9th World One Health Congress for delivering the Best Oral Presentation.
Kimberly Edwards
She was recognized at the 9th World One Health Congress for creating the Best Poster.
The details
Participants engaged in various presentations and workshops, where representatives from Singapore, Malawi, and Uzbekistan showcased methods to improve coordination across different sectors. Additionally, the event recognized excellence in the field, presenting Shauna Thomas with the Best Oral Presentation award and Kimberly Edwards with the Best Poster award.
Timeline
The One Health Joint Plan of Action was originally launched in 2022.
The previous time the Congress was held in Europe was in 2015.
The 9th World One Health Congress took place in early September 2026.
Health Landscape
The Congress serves as a critical forum to accelerate the implementation goals established by the 2022 One Health Joint Plan of Action. This represents a broader global shift toward unifying biological, environmental, and human health strategies to prevent future pandemics.
The Congress efforts to strengthen biosecurity and cross-sectoral coordination are designed to improve global pandemic readiness and public health safety. For the average person, these initiatives focus on reducing the risks associated with biohealth threats through better surveillance.
The takeaway
The success of the 9th World One Health Congress highlights the ongoing necessity for global cooperation to manage complex health threats effectively. Readers should monitor regional progress in One Health implementation as nations adopt these new collaborative frameworks.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in international medical cooperation in the Health — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rural21.
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