The region of Southeast Asia has a rapidly growing economy, underpinned by an established regional political organisation – ASEAN. However, the continuous spread of diseases, such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), African swine fever (ASF), lumpy skin disease (LSD) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), threaten the viability of efforts for a progressive and sustainable animal industry sector in the region. Moreso, as economic integration and open borders, increase, animal, public and wildlife health become more important.
ASEAN cooperation in animal health has been ongoing for quite some time now. However, with the incursion and devastating socio-economic impacts of H5N1 HPAI in the early part of the 21st century, ASEAN experts and leaders recognised the need for each member state to build up the capacity and capability to deal with the threats and for a regionally driven and sustainable coordination mechanism, including multi-sectoral collaboration, to deal with Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs), Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and zoonoses. Hence, in 2011, the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) endorsed the proposal to establish the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ).