FAO recognises the scientific evidence that wild birds, especially waterfowl, are natural reservoirs for influenza A viruses. In the efforts to better control the disease however, FAO does not recommend action against wild birds, but limit their potential contact with the poultry production sector – large and small. Activities based on hunting, poisoning of populations or habitat destruction in order to remove the threat wild birds are likely accelerate their dispersal and potentially further spreading the infection to other parts of the country or neighbouring countries, kill other species, contaminate or destroy environment or ecosystem balances.

FAO supports the investment in strengthening good hygiene practices and biosecurity interventions on poultry farms, during transport or marketing of poultry and safeguarding their products. These efforts would be paramount for risk management and reduction, as opposed to indiscriminate hunting or habitat destruction. FAO would also urge that there is no justification for pre-emptive culling of endangered species in zoological collections. Control measures for captive wild birds in places where virus is detected should be based on strict movement control, isolation and only when necessary limited culling of affected birds.

The use of disinfectants in the environment where sick or dead birds are found is likely ineffective because of the high organic content and could be environmentally damaging long-term.

EMPRES-Animal Health 360 ::: No. 46-2016
English: [Pub-card] - [PDF]

EMPRES-Animal Health 360 ::: No. 45-2015
English: [Pub-card] - [PDF]

[Archive]

Anthrax outbreaks: a warning for heightened awareness
Vol. 37-September 2016

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) spread in The Middle East: risk assessment
Vol. 36-September 2016

[Archive]

Rational use of vaccination for control and prevention of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza ::: Vol. 10-2016

Emergence of porcine epidemic diarrhoea in North America ::: Vol. 9-2014

[Archive]

H5N8 HPAI in Uganda: Risk Assessment
Issue No. 2-2017

Rift Valley Fever in Niger: Risk Assessment
Issue No. 1-2017

Global Animal Disease Intelligence Report ::: Issue No. 4 (January-December 2015)

Global Animal Disease Intelligence Report ::: Issue No. 3 (July-November 2015)

[Archive]

Economic analysis of animal diseases
FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines No. 18

Biosecurity guide for live poultry markets - [French] [ Chinese] [Vietnamese]
FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines No. 17

[Archive]

Livestock-related interventions during emergencies – The how-to-do-it manual
FAO Animal Production and Health Manual No.18

Risk-based disease surveillance
FAO Animal Production and Health Manual No.17

[Archive]

Lessons from HPAI
FAO Animal Production and Health Paper No. 176

Approaches to controlling, preventing and eliminating H5N1 HPAI in endemic countries
FAO Animal Production and Health Paper No. 171

[Archive]

Understanding MERS-CoV at the Animal-Human Interface
FAO Animal Production and Health Report No. 11

Understanding Ebola Virus at the Animal-Human Interface
FAO Animal Production and Health Report No. 10

[Archive]

Can Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) be Eradicated?
FAO Animal Production and Health Proceedings No.19

Developing a stepwise approach for rabies prevention and control
FAO Animal Production and Health Proceedings No. 18

[Archive]

Addressing H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - Qualitative risk assessment on spread in the Central African region
[Pub-card] - [PDF] ::: [French Pub-card] [French PDF]

Peste des petits ruminants: global eradication programme
[Pub-card] - [PDF]

Foot and mouth disease vaccination and post-vaccination monitoring
[Pub-card] - [PDF]

Global Strategy for the Control and Eradication of PPR
[Pub-card] - [PDF] ::: [French Pub-card] [French PDF]

The Global Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control Strategy
[Pub-card] - [PDF]

H7N9 risk documents

Addressing Zaire Ebola virus (EBV) outbreaks - Rapid qualitative exposure and release assessment
[Pub-card] - [PDF]