According to WOAH, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has resulted in the death and mass slaughter of more than 500 million poultry worldwide between 2005 and 2022. The spread and recurrence of this disease is a global threat to the poultry sector and farmers’ livelihoods, and can have severe consequences for food security, biodiversity and a potential human pandemic. But, despite efforts to implement prevention and control measures, HPAI continues to spread.
Considering the current situation, the Technical Item of the 90th General Session of WOAH held in Paris, from 21 to 25 May, was “Strategic Challenges in the Global Control of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza”. The rapporteur, Dr. David Swayne presented a review of the changes in the epidemiology and ecology of the HPAI, the current challenges and possible solutions for reflection.
The Technical Item was the introduction and laid the foundations for the Animal Health Forum on Avian Influenza, a discussion format introduced for the first time at the WOAH General Session. The forum covered four major topics:
- Avian influenza intelligence – Surveillance and monitoring for early detection and prevention.
- Response: Disease control strategies for early response and business continuity, including vaccination.
- Resilience: International standards to facilitate safe trade including in the presence of vaccination.
- Global coordinated strategy for progressive control of avian influenza.
Among the conclusions of the forum, it would be worth highlighting that avian influenza is a One Health issue and must be tackled through a holistic approach. The disease requires the work and dedication of international and regional organisations, different administrations and all sectors and stakeholders. Trust, transparency and collaboration are essential.
The gaps in surveillance data and associated inequities in surveillance capacity in different parts of the world must be addressed. It is necessary to consider challenges faced by low-income countries where poultry is essential for food security and to support families’ livelihoods.
There is a need to work on guidelines on vaccination at multiple tier levels, for countries that are not exporting but also for countries that do export and countries that import. And develop those surveillance guidelines to help move forward in adding vaccination as an additional tool.
Much work remains to be done in zoning, compartmentalisation and vaccination. There will not be a one size fits all approach, and further guidance is needed to provide direction to implement the provisions in the WOAH Terrestrial Code to minimise impacts on trade and economies.
Finally, Resolution 28 on the Technical Item associated with the Animal Health Forum outlines the recommendations for WOAH to deal with the global threat of HPAI.
Watch the video of the forum
