Coordinated response needed to tackle avian influenza

The spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza highlights the urgent need for strengthened biosecurity, monitoring and surveillance, rapid-response mechanisms, and risk communication to safeguard the poultry sector and protect livelihoods and economies, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) stated in March 2025. 

FAO Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi described the spread of the disease as unprecedented, “leading to serious impacts on food security and food supply in countries, including loss of valuable nutrition, rural jobs and income, shocks to local economies, and of course increasing costs to consumers”.  

Among the complex challenges which avian influenza poses is how to protect poultry production systems to ensure food security and the nutrition of the millions who rely on poultry for meat and eggs. Additional challenges revolved around safeguarding biodiversity, livelihoods and safe trade, and preventing social impacts, most often borne by poultry farmers, Magwenzi said.  

FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol emphasised that this was a transboundary issue requiring a global, coordinated response. To strengthen these efforts, FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have launched a ten-year Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza.

The last four years have seen a major shift in avian influenza in terms of geographical spread, with increased spillover to mammals and massive losses in domestic birds, impacting food security and driving up prices for poultry products. Large numbers of wild birds have succumbed to the disease, harming biodiversity with at least 300 newly affected wild bird species since 2021.

Bechdol emphasised that partnership with the private sector was vital. She described the sector as the key stakeholders in Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) prevention and control, playing a crucial role in ensuring safe and responsible value chains, developing new technologies for vaccines and diagnostics, and providing good quality animal health services.

(FAO/ile)

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