The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have developed a comprehensive ten-year global strategy under the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Trans boundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) to address the persistent and evolving threat posed by high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This new plan, from 2024 to 2033, aims to address the HPAI virus’s ongoing international spread and alterations, notably the H5 goose/Guangdong (Gs/GD) lineage, focusing on the 2.3.4.4b clade. This plan builds on the 2007 initiative that was developed in response to the development of the H5N1 Gs/GD lineage in Asia.
The revised strategy emphasizes a systems approach, recognizing the need to contextualize the threat of HPAI within broader global concerns and striving for long-term transformative change in the poultry sector. At its core is the One Health approach, which promotes integrated collaboration across public health, wildlife, and environmental sectors. This integration is crucial to prevent and control HPAI effectively. The strategy encourages both established and innovative methods to protect poultry value chains, aiming to significantly reduce the burden of infections and associated economic losses.
The strategy provides high-level strategic guidance for global and regional collaboration, assisting in the formulation and modification of national and regional action plans for HPAI prevention and control. It is intended to be versatile, allowing countries to modify their methods to their unique situations. The strategy’s ultimate aim is to achieve effective HPAI prevention and management throughout the chicken value chain, thereby protecting humans, other domestic animals, wildlife, and the environment, while also harmonizing with the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems.
The scope of the strategy includes all HPAI and zoonotic low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses, with particular emphasis on the H5N1 2.3.4.4b clade. It highlights the importance of actions to be taken by the animal health sector in collaboration with other sectors to prevent and control HPAI, complementing other strategies and guidelines on avian influenza.
Key beneficiaries of this strategy include national veterinary services, wildlife, environment, and public health services, regional economic communities, private sectors, research and educational institutions, and civil society organizations involved in animal health, welfare, production, and zoonotic disease prevention and control. The strategy encourages engagement with existing One Health Platforms or the establishment of new ones at regional and national levels, in partnership with regional quadripartite partners. It advocates for regular regional information sharing and updates on HPAI, especially during high-risk transmission periods linked to increased poultry trade and wild bird migration.
To accomplish the strategy’s vision, numerous measures are required at the global, regional, and national levels. Globally, a governance framework will be built to coordinate, monitor, and report on strategy implementation using current GF-TAD processes. Strengthening international collaboration and coordination is critical, and a thorough communication strategy will be established to raise awareness, offer progress updates, and lobby for technical and financial support for national HPAI prevention and control plans. OFFLU, the WOAH/FAO global network of expertise on animal influenza, will also be supported, as it plays a critical role in providing global, regional, and national expert technical input, leading scientific collaboration, and disseminating technical knowledge.
At the regional level, the strategy emphasizes facilitating communication and the development of coordinated contextually appropriate HPAI action plans. This includes supporting the establishment of regional laboratory networks to improve the detection and characterization of HPAI viruses and engaging stakeholders in assessing poultry value chains to identify key areas for transformation.
Nationally, countries are encouraged to build or revise action plans based on the global strategy and customized to their specific settings, utilizing the most recent scientific findings. Timely and honest reporting and information exchange about HPAI and LPAI outbreaks, including genetic data, are critical to effective management. Improved monitoring and laboratory capabilities are essential for early identification and response operations. Collaboration with regional partners to exchange experiences, debate difficulties, and find solutions is also essential.
The strategy underscores the importance of fostering collaborations with relevant sectors and stakeholders to ensure the long-term operationalization of the One Health approach for HPAI prevention and control. Advocacy for political and financial support at the national level is crucial, along with reviewing past outbreaks to identify systemic factors or barriers to prevention and future concerns affecting poultry value chains.
To stay informed and engaged, stakeholders can visit the GF-TADs website and linked platforms to receive regular updates on the strategy’s development, HPAI status reports, and epidemiological changes. Active participation in regional workshops and seminars on HPAI prevention and control is encouraged to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration.
The Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (2024-2033) seeks to develop a coordinated, comprehensive, and long-term approach to managing HPAI risks, while also protecting animal and human health, food security, and the livelihoods of poultry farmers.
