Experts Convened in Lisbon for One Health Congress
Over 1,300 global professionals gathered to strengthen cross-sector collaboration on biohealth and biosecurity.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Health — General
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The 9th World One Health Congress concluded in early September 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal, bringing together experts from 107 countries. The four-day event focused on integrating strategies to address complex biohealth threats.
Why it matters
The meeting aimed to standardize global efforts against biohealth threats by improving cross-sectoral coordination. This effort builds upon the One Health Joint Plan of Action to better secure health systems against emerging risks.
The conference included over 1,300 experts from 107 countries over a four-day period in Lisbon. While the gathering successfully mobilized diverse stakeholders, the long-term efficacy of the resulting Joint Statement and Call to Action remains to be evaluated.
The players
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization served as the patron for the 9th World One Health Congress.
Shauna Thomas
An expert participant who received the Best Oral Presentation award at the congress.
Kimberly Edwards
An expert participant who received the Best Poster award at the congress.
The details
The Congress utilized a series of presentations, workshops, and panel discussions to facilitate knowledge exchange. Representatives from nations including Singapore, Malawi, and Uzbekistan presented case studies on how to improve coordination between human, animal, and environmental health sectors. These collaborative strategies are designed to address biological threats by aligning research, policy, and field-level biosecurity measures.
Timeline
The 9th World One Health Congress took place in early September 2026.
The Congress lasted four days.
The One Health Joint Plan of Action was initially launched in 2022.
The Congress last occurred in Europe in 2015.
Health Landscape
This Congress represents a formal attempt to scale the One Health Joint Plan of Action into practical, multisectoral policies. It highlights a shift from conceptual frameworks toward operational biosecurity and integrated health threat management across global borders.
While the Congress focused on high-level policy, the resulting improvements in biosecurity are intended to reduce the population-level risk of zoonotic and cross-sectoral disease outbreaks. Residents concerned about public health protections may follow local policy shifts regarding integrated health monitoring.
The takeaway
The event highlighted that global health security relies on the seamless integration of human, animal, and environmental data. For individuals, tracking major health agency guidelines remains the best way to stay informed on how these systemic policy changes affect local community protection.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Rural21.
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