Bangkok, Thailand – A new and highly contagious strain of avian flu is sweeping across the Asia-Pacific region, prompting an urgent call to action from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and USAID.
The emergence of a new H5N1 variant, which has spread to new animal species, including marine mammals and farmed ruminants, has heightened concerns about its potential impact on both human and animal health. This alarming development highlights the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive response.
During the three-day consultation, FAO urged member nations to come together in a robust response to this pressing issue. Key measures discussed included the implementation of comprehensive surveillance systems, the enhancement of rapid diagnostic capabilities, improved data sharing among countries, and strengthened risk communication strategies.
Additionally, the importance of promoting social and behavioral changes to reduce the risk of virus transmission was emphasized. With the support of USAID, FAO is focused on bolstering #OneHealth capacities, ensuring a unified approach to protecting human, animal, and environmental health. This initiative highlights the interconnected nature of health across different sectors and the need for collaborative efforts to address such global challenges.