FAO launches Avian Influenza Emergency Preparedness Course

April 27, 2023 - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, launched on Tuesday, April 25, a virtual training course for avian influenza emergency, aimed at more than 700 veterinarians from official veterinary services and other private sector professionals directly involved in avian influenza (surveillance, detection, prevention, and response).

This four-week course, offered in English and Spanish, features two interactive online modules, training materials, and a discussion forum each week. The course began with a webinar on the global perspective and economic impact of avian influenza by Klaas Dietze, Research Associate at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, and reviewed regional and national strategies for dealing with the disease in a presentation by Christopher Hamilton-West, professor at the University of Chile. 

Avian Influenza is a viral disease that affects domestic birds, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, quails, and wild birds, causing high morbidity and mortality, and having no specific treatment. Currently, 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have reported cases of infected birds, accounting for about 8.5 million birds that have died or have been culled in Latin America to control the disease. In addition, cases of infection in mammals and humans have been reported (the most recent in Chile).

According to Andrés González, FAO Animal Health, Sustainable Livestock, and Biodiversity Officer, "We must continue monitoring the situation and advocate for public-private coordination, supported by international organizations such as FAO, to support food security and reduce impacts on the livelihoods of the most vulnerable people in the region. This course provides specific information on prevention, control, and response to this disease".

Currently, the region's countries produce 20.4% of the poultry meat and 10% of the eggs consumed worldwide, a sector of great importance for the livelihoods of millions of small and medium-sized agricultural producers and a source of protein for families in these countries. It is important to emphasize that there is no risk of contagion for people when consuming these proteins well-cooked.

The course was developed by FAO's network of Virtual Learning Centers, specialized in training on One Health issues, and has specialists to answer participants' questions.

This launching is part of the support actions that FAO is providing to Latin American and Caribbean countries to face the avian influenza emergency, such as the webinar for technicians and veterinarians held last March.