Veterinarians warn that public-sector dismissals threaten zoonosis prevention

The Panamanian Association of Veterinary Doctors has rejected the dismissal of professionals who worked in public administration, warning that the cuts directly affect veterinary public health, epidemiological surveillance and wildlife protection.

The association said the departures reduce the state's technical capacity in areas essential to assessing health risks and responding to environmental emergencies. It stressed that government veterinarians do more than provide clinical care. They form a first line of defense against zoonotic diseases, which can pass from animals to humans.

The group also warned that the loss of qualified staff threatens the application of the international One Health approach, which links animal health, human health and ecosystem conservation. “Wild animals arriving for treatment have an unknown origin, so they must be handled by trained personnel to prevent accidents and ensure their return to ecosystems,” the association said.

According to the APMV, fewer wildlife and marine specialists will weaken the state's response to emerging diseases, mass mortality events, marine-animal strandings and pollution incidents. Cetaceans, turtles, seabirds and jaguars are regarded by the scientific community as sentinels of local ecosystem health, making their continued monitoring essential for detecting health threats early.

The association called on authorities to reassess the dismissals and consider their technical consequences for Panama's natural heritage and national health security.

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Wild animals arriving for treatment have an unknown origin, so they must be handled by trained personnel to prevent accidents and ensure their return to ecosystems.