FAO and WOAH Launch Global H5N1 Strategy

The FAO and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) have launched a new ten-year strategy to combat the spread of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) as the disease poses unprecedented threats to food security, biodiversity, and economies worldwide. The strategy highlights the need for strengthened biosecurity, enhanced surveillance, and rapid-response mechanisms to protect poultry production systems, which are crucial for the nutrition and livelihoods of millions. The virus has begun affecting mammals, raising concerns about its potential to adapt to humans, although there is currently no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol emphasizes that H5N1 is a transboundary threat, necessitating global cooperation. Economic impacts are already being felt, with significant loss of poultry and rising prices, particularly noted in the United States. The strategy also aims to address broader challenges such as safeguarding biodiversity and supporting resilient agrifood systems in the face of this global health crisis.