FAO alert on avian influenza

FAO

FAO alert on avian influenza

Risk of upsurge and regional spread through wild birds in Latin America and the Caribbean

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 4 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Policy brief

Full item page

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cd3659en

Synopsis (short abstract) FAO calls for increased vigilance and preparedness for avian influenza (AI) during the Southern hemisphere summer, as H5N1 viruses, especially those of clade 2.3.4.4b, continue to diversify genetically and spread geographically in the Americas. Given the ongoing situation in the region, the risk of (re-)introduction to countries along the wild bird migratory corridors is regarded as high. Importantly, FAO recommends countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean to put in place enhanced measures for early detection, diagnosis, outbreak response, and coordination with neighbouring countries under a One Health approach, in wild and domestic birds as well as mammals.

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2024. FAO alert on avian influenza – Risk of upsurge and regional spread through wild birds in Latin America and the Caribbean. Rome.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cd3659en

Language English

Also available in:

Spanish

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During 2020, high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses arose from previously circulating influenza A(H5Nx) viruses and spread predominantly via migratory birds to many parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. This epizootic event has led to unprecedented numbers of deaths in wild birds and caused outbreaks in poultry. In late 2021, these viruses crossed the Atlantic Ocean to North America and subsequently reached South America in October 2022. Over the past few years, there have been increased detections of A(H5N1) viruses in non-avian species globally including wild and domestic (companion and farmed) terrestrial and marine mammals, with recent cases in livestock in the United States of America. The majority of A(H5N1) viruses characterized genetically since 2020 belong to the haemagglutinin (HA) H5 clade 2.3.4.4b, with some regional exceptions. Since the last joint assessment of August 2024, at least 33 additional human cases of infection with A(H5) viruses have been reported. Of these, 30 were reported from the USA.FAO, WHO, and WOAH jointly updated their assessment of the risk of zoonotic transmission (i.e., animal to human) considering additional information made available since the previous assessment of 14 August 2024. This update is limited to the inclusion of additional information being made available globally. Due to the potential risk to human health and the far-reaching implications of the disease on the health of wild bird and other animal populations, the use of a One Health approach is essential to tackle avian influenza effectively, to monitor virus circulation, to prevent within species transmission and to prevent human infections from exposure to animals.