Global antimicrobial use in animals has witnessed a commendable 13% decline over the past three years.

This achievement underscores ongoing efforts to address the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance, a phenomenon jeopardizing the efficacy of life-saving drugs like antibiotics.

These antimicrobial drugs, hailed for revolutionizing living conditions for both humans and animals, are facing a threat to their efficacy due to widespread misuse and overuse in various sectors.

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), serving as the global authority on animal health, has been at the forefront of collecting data on antimicrobial use since 2015. Yearly reports highlight consistent efforts in the global animal health sector, with the latest report revealing a decline in the use of antimicrobials crucial for human health.

Dr. Javier Yugueros-Marcos, Head of the Antimicrobial Resistance and Veterinary Products Department at WOAH, emphasizes that less than 20% of antimicrobials used in animals in 2019 were of the highest priority for human health.

He stresses the collective responsibility across sectors for responsible use, considering these medicines as vital therapies for life-threatening human diseases. Notably, an estimated 4 million human deaths in the same year were linked to antimicrobial resistance.

"It is important to highlight that, in the same year, an estimated 4 million human deaths were linked to antimicrobial resistance."

Taking the fight against this global health threat further, WOAH has digitally transformed its global database into the online platform ANIMUSE. This innovation allows open access to global and regional data interactively, offering easier reporting, error checks, and data visualization tools for contributing members.

Dr. Carolee Carlson, veterinarian, and epidemiologist for the Public Health Agency of Canada, highlights ANIMUSE's strength in flexibility. Countries at any stage of their surveillance program can report on the platform, fostering discussion and improvement over time, even if their insights on antimicrobial usage are limited.

"Even if a country’s insight on amounts of antimicrobials used in animals is limited, being able to join the platform fosters discussion and improvement over time."