Avian influenza (AI) is no longer a sporadic threat. It is becoming a global challenge, said Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), at a global multisectoral dialogue in Brazil by FAO which aims to forge coordinated defense against the escalating threat to animal and human health and agricultural livelihoods.
“No single country or sector can tackle this threat in isolation—and failure is not an option. Practical, science-based collaboration like this is essential to protect our agrifood systems, livelihoods, and public health,” she stressed.
AI, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily infects birds. The virus belongs to the type A influenza family, which is known for its ability to mutate and change rapidly.
Since 2020, highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) has expanded rapidly across continents, devastating poultry flocks, impacting biodiversity, trade and food security, and raising concerns over its potential to spark a human pandemic.
The currently circulating AI panzootic is now widespread, and represents one of the most serious pandemic threats, experts warn. AI has spread to 83 mammal species including dairy cattle and wildlife and poses a rapidly evolving risk.
The event seeks to build on the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of HPAI, recently launched by FAO in collaboration with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
This strategy aims to support the development and implementation of national and regional action plans while strengthening global efforts to reduce transboundary and pandemic risks.
The event, which was also attended by experts from Asia, focuses on:
- Identifying effective HPAI prevention and control strategies—particularly in low-income countries and informal backyard poultry systems.
- Promoting early warning systems, vaccination strategies, and biosecurity measures.
- Enhancing multisectoral coordination based on the One Health approach.
- Sharing innovative, field-ready solutions for diagnostics, surveillance, and outbreak response.
Thanawat Tiensin, Chief Veterinarian of FAO and Director of the Animal Production and Health Division summarized FAO’s approach in his remarks:
“Improved surveillance, biosecurity, and vaccination when appropriate, combined with rapid disease control are keys to controlling this disease. At the same time, the sustainable transformation of poultry production offers new approaches and safeguards to prevent losses from poultry diseases. It will take a holistic approach and partnering with the private sector to effectively reduce the risk of avian influenza for generations to come.”