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. 47-2016 (special issue on Lumpy Skin Disease)
[Pub-card] - [PDF]

EMPRES-Animal Health 360 ::: No. 46-2016
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[Archive]

Anthrax outbreaks: a warning for heightened awareness

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) spread in The Middle East: risk assessment

[Archive]

Highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in 2016 and early 2017 - Observations and future perspectives
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Rational use of vaccination for control and prevention of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza
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[Archive]

African Swine Fever threatens People's Republic of China
Issue No. 5-2018
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Chinese-origin H7N9 avian influenza spread in poultry and human exposure
Issue No. 4-2018
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[Archive]

Global Animal Disease Intelligence Report (January-December 2016)

Global Animal Disease Intelligence Report (January-December 2015)

[Archive]

Economic analysis of animal diseases

Biosecurity guide for live poultry markets - [French] [ Chinese] [Vietnamese]

[Archive]

Rif Valley fever surveillance

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD): A field manual for veterinarians

African swine fever (ASF) detection and diagnosis: A manual for veterinarians

[Archive]

Lessons from HPAI

Approaches to controlling, preventing and eliminating H5N1 HPAI in endemic countries

[Archive]

Understanding MERS-CoV at the Animal-Human Interface

Understanding Ebola Virus at the Animal-Human Interface

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Can Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) be Eradicated?

Developing a stepwise approach for rabies prevention and control

[Archive]

Addressing H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - Qualitative risk assessment on spread in the Central African region
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Peste des petits ruminants: global eradication programme
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Foot and mouth disease vaccination and post-vaccination monitoring
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Global Strategy for the Control and Eradication of PPR
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The Global Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control Strategy
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H7N9 risk documents

Addressing Zaire Ebola virus (EBV) outbreaks - Rapid qualitative exposure and release assessment
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