Map 1. Global distribution of AIV with zoonotic potential observed since 22 July 2026

Symbols may overlap for events in similar geographic locations.

Notes: Refer to the disclaimer available on this webpage for the names and boundaries in this map. The final boundary between the Sudan and South Sudan has not yet been determined. The final status of the Abyei area is not yet determined. The dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties.
Source: United Nations Geospatial. 2020. Map of the World. [Cited October 2026]. Modified with Emergency Prevention System Global Animal Disease Information System (EMPRES-i), WOAH and National Authorities data, 2025.

Map 2. Global distribution of AIV with zoonotic potential* observed in the period 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026

Symbols may overlap for events in similar geographic locations.

Notes: Refer to the disclaimer available on this webpage for the names and boundaries in this map. Final boundary between the Sudan and South Sudan has not yet been determined. Final status of the Abyei area is not yet determined. Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties.
Source: United Nations Geospatial. 2020. Map of the World. [Cited October 2025]. Modified with Emergency Prevention System Global Animal Disease Information System (EMPRES-i), WOAH and National Authorities data, 2025.

Recent publications

Domestic

Public health risks and control measures associated with live animal and animal product trade in traditional food markets in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review. BMJ Public Health, 4(4):e006159. reference

Negotiating security and resilience: planning conundrums for avian influenza control in Great Britain's poultry systems. Environ Res Food Syst, 3(3):035025-35025. reference

Biosecurity risk factors associated with outbreaks of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) on poultry farms in Lower Saxony (Germany) - A case-control-study. Prev Vet Med, 257:107049. reference

Biosecurity implementation in indoor and outdoor-access broiler production systems in the Netherlands. Poult Sci, 105(12):107951. reference

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) in a backyard flock in Serbia: implications of low biosecurity. Front Public Health, 14:1920924. reference

Mobility Network Analysis of the Poultry Sector in Morocco: A Tool for the Surveillance and Prevention of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Vet Sci, 13(9):858. reference

Probiotics as a Strategy for Mitigating Viral Infections in Poultry: Immunomodulatory Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential. Vet Med Sci, 12(6):e71298. reference

Wild

Genomic characterization of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b into wild seabirds from coastal Ecuador. Front Microbiol, 17:1953002. reference

Detection of Divergent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2025. Emerg Infect Dis, 32(10):1707-1711. reference

Multiple introductions and spread of novel reassortant highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses via wild birds, South Korea, 2024-2025. Vet Res, 57(1):178. reference

Mallard super-shedders of avian influenza exhibit distinct cloacal microbial abundance profiles.Microbiol Spectr, 2026 Oct 6:e0208926. reference

Quantifying iris pigmentation irregularities following an avian influenza outbreak: implications for population-level disease surveillance in a colonial seabird. Conserv Physiol, 14(1):coag069. reference

Avian cholera causes mass mortality at penguin mega-colonies amid H5N1 HPAI outbreaks in Antarctica. Proc Biol Sci, 293(2080):20261271. reference

Avian influenza overview June-August 2026. EFSA J, 24(9):e10369. reference

The Role of Wildlife and Climate Change in the Emergence of One Health-Related Viral Diseases in Australia. Viruses, 18(9):1001. reference

Avian Influenza Panzootic Calls for Integrating Available Movement Data Into Epidemiological Management. Influenza Other Respir Viruses, 20(10):e70330. reference

Mammal

Evidence of Exposure to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Viruses in East Greenland Polar Bears. Emerg Infect Dis, 32(11). reference

Evidence for exposure to and infection with H5 clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses among polar bears inhabiting Alaska. iScience, 29(10):117736. reference

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Subtype 5 in Cetaceans, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis, 32(10):1746-1749. reference

Whole genome sequences of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses detected in felines in Bangladesh. Microbiol Resour Announc, 2026 Oct 16:e0083526. reference

Clinical Course, Laboratory Findings, and Tissue Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in a Naturally Infected Domestic Cat. Viruses, 18(9):1031. reference

Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Cat and Rats during Outbreak in Backyard Poultry, United States, 2025. Emerg Infect Dis, 32(10):1721-1725. reference

Infection and transmission dynamics of bovine and human influenza A H5N1 viruses in mouse and hamster models. J Virol, 2026 Oct 6:e0104426. reference

How can veterinary personnel recognize and protect themselves from domestic cats infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses? J Am Vet Med Assoc, 2026 Oct 2:1-4. reference

A caprine mammary infection model for highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1. Sci Adv, 12(42):eaei3111. reference

Dairy & human

Detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13 in placentas from aborted bovine fetuses. J Vet Diagn Invest, 2026 Sep 30:10406387261483207. reference

H5N1 epidemiology and production impact in eight California dairy herds at the outbreak epicenter. Prev Vet Med, 257:107022. reference

Dairy producers' perceptions of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 and their influence on implementation of biosecurity changes. J Dairy Sci, 2026 Oct 9:S0022-0302(26)03357-6. reference

Livestock production intensity and mucosal IgA and IgG responses to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus, North Carolina, 2021-2022. medRxiv, 2026 Aug 10:2026.08.06.26359901.Preprint reference

Distinct influenza interfaces in cattle: repeated spillovers of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) from wild birds and enzootic circulation of influenza D virus. Front Cell Infect Microbiol, 16:1957795. reference

Diminished sialoside binding in novel H5N1 influenza hemagglutinin variants identified in a human patient. Nat Commun, 17(1):9972. reference

Virus

Avian influenza A virus polymerase gene leads to temperature-resistant genome replication. J Virol, 2026 Oct 13:e0097826. reference

Genetic Characteristics and Pathogenicity of Recent G4 Eurasian Avian-like H1N1 Swine Influenza Viruses in China. Vet Sci, 13(9):936. reference

Molecular Epidemiology and Evolution of Swine Influenza A Viruses, Vietnam, 2020-2024. Emerg Infect Dis, 32(10):1609-1620. reference

Nomenclature Updates to the Hemagglutinin Gene Clade Designations Resulting From the Continued Evolution of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza A(H5) Virus Clades 2.3.2.1c and 2.3.4.4. Influenza Other Respir Viruses, 20(10):e70317. reference

In silico analysis of pH stabilising mutations of hemagglutinin of influenza A virus H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b. Npj Viruses, 4(1):44. reference

Genetic characterization of highly similar H9N2 viruses isolated from swine and poultry in China. Microb Pathog, 221:108868. reference

H9N2 avian influenza virus in Muscovy ducks: a nationwide epidemiological survey and vaccine efficacy assessment. Vet Res, 57(1):183. reference

Global Patterns of Geographic Distribution, Temporal Trends, Host Spectrum, and Molecular Variation of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus, 1966-2023. Viruses, 18(9):977. reference

Epidemiological and Phylogenetic Analysis of Reassorted H10Nx Avian Influenza Viruses in Guangdong Province, China. Influenza Other Respir Viruses, 20(9):e70320. reference

Pattern recognition receptors and divergent disease severity in zoonotic viral infections. J Biol Chem, 2026 Oct 8:113618. reference

Influenza virus research in an era of emerging respiratory threats: host-virus interactions, surveillance technologies, antiviral management and resistance, and vaccine preparedness. Front Microbiol, 17:1949447. reference

Self-amplifying RNA technology: a breakthrough in veterinary medicine for livestock and wildlife. Sci Tech Rev, 45:3789. reference

Assay, Assessment & disinfectant

DNA triangular prism-engineered multicolor chemiluminescence capsules for multiplexed visual detection of nucleic acid biomarkers. J Mater Chem B, 2026 Oct 9. reference

Streamlined CRISPR-based assays for detection and subtyping of H5 and H7 avian influenza. iScience, 29(10):117556. reference

Establishment and preliminary evaluation of an RT-ERA combined with CRISPR/Cas12a assay for detection of H5 and H7 influenza viruses. Front Cell Infect Microbiol, 16:1922968. reference

Breaking the channel barrier: same-fluorescence, different-Tm probe strategy enables seven-target respiratory virus detection on a six-channel PCR platform within 20 minutes. Anal Chim Acta, 1423:346181. reference

Species-Agnostic Tools for HPAI H5N1 Antibody and Antigen Detection in Dairy Cows, Chickens, and Humans. Res Sq, 2026 Sep 13:rs.3.rs-10656302. reference Preprint

Environmental surveillance: harnessing environmental sample data to protect animal health. Front Vet Sci, 13:1965480. reference

Leakage-safe weekly risk mapping of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in domestic poultry in Japan using open outbreak, meteorological, and geospatial data. Prev Vet Med, 257:107024. reference

Virus-Dependent Relative Contributions of Citric Acid and Benzalkonium Chloride to the Virucidal Efficacy of Combination Disinfectants. Microorganisms, 14(9):1873. reference

Overview & opinion

The Risk of an H5N1 Influenza Pandemic. Annu Rev Med, 2026 Oct 16. reference

Zoonotic Viral Spillover: From Reservoir Ecology and Viral Evolution to Pandemic Prevention. Virus Res, 2026 Oct 15:199818. reference

If the EU is serious about One Health, it must ban fur farming. Lancet Reg Health Eur, 69:101848. reference

FAO's support to countries

Global level

• FAO participated to the WHO EPI-WIN webinar Understanding Influenza A(H9N2): current risks, One Health action and pandemic preparedness. Recording is available at this link.
• The WHO Vaccine Composition Meeting (VCM) took place in Lyon, France, on 21-25 September 2026. The OFFLU (WOAH/FAO Network of Expertise on Animal Influenza) provided critical genetic, antigenic and epidemiological data on circulating avian and swine influenza viruses to inform WHO’s assessment of candidate vaccine viruses for pandemic preparedness. The summary report including the recommendations is now available. [link]
• Jointly with WHO, WOAH and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), FAO launched the Global framework to accelerate action on avian influenza that provides a strategic direction for collaboration, advocacy and resource mobilization while supporting countries in strengthening a coordinated One Health approach to avian influenza. [link]
• FAO hosted the Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems on 21-23 September 2026 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. [link]
• FAO participated in the VETLAB Network Coordination Meeting with directors of African and Asian veterinary laboratories organized by the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre (Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture) (CJN) hosted at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters on 17-21 August 2026 in Vienna, Austria.
• OFFLU released a statement entitled Incursion of HPAI H5 into Australia and New Zealand with potential impact on wildlife populations and to spread further in Oceania. [link]
• FAO participated to the third KAPPA-FLU annual meeting held on 30 June – 2 July in Kalmar, Sweden, where participants presented their progress on research projects addressing various topics related to avian influenza. [link]
• FAO and OFFLU participated in the WHO Global Influenza Programme polymerase chain reaction (PCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS) and antiviral working group meetings in June 2026.

Regional/country level

• Americas
• FAO published an alert calling countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen their prevention and surveillance measures, as well as to raise their level of alert and preparedness. Continued HPAI circulation in the Americas, combined with the seasonal migration and concentration of wild birds from the northern hemisphere, may increase the risk of viral transmission and introduction into domestic bird populations in the region. Available in English and Spanish.
• The project “Preventing Infections through Vigilance at the Origin of Transmission in Latin America and the Caribbean (PIVOT)” was approved under the third call of the Pandemic Fund. The project will have a strong focus on avian influenza, support the strengthening of surveillance and laboratory capacities for early detection and response, facilitate cross-sector collaboration and boost preparedness. [link]
• Technical support has been coordinated with Suriname after their first HPAI detection ever reported. Online meeting has been done with the veterinary service and the PS with FAO from HQ, subregional office in the Caribbean and RLC. A field mission will be deployed at the end of October to support the country emergency response and preparedness for HPAI.
• In September a field mission was deployed to support Honduras´ response to HPAI following national request. Activities to support field laboratory and the One Health approach during HPAI emergency were implemented and coordinated with the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad e Inocuidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA), the regional and subregional offices. [link1; link2]
• The Quadripartite (FAO, WOAH, PAHO/WHO and UNEP), together with regional partners (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture [IICA] and Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria [OIRSA]), signed a Joint Declaration on One Health in the Americas in July 2026, marking the first regional agreement to strengthen coordination and collaborative action on zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and environmental health threats with a One health approach. The Joint Declaration reinforces commitment to the One Health approach in the Americas. [link]
• FAO and the veterinary services of Peru (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agraria - SENASA) carried out on 4 September the first of a series of online training concerning the compartmentalization of domestic birds in relation to HPAI and Newcastle disease, and other areas of animal health preparedness and disease prevention. The regional office gave technical support and more than 85 personnel participated in the webinar. [link]
• In Chile, a workshop on risk communication during animal health threats and emergencies was held on 11-12 August in Santiago to strengthen veterinary services technical capacities under a project on epidemiological intelligence and biosecurity (GCP/GLO/1140/USA). Other countries were invited to share their experiences in risk communication, e.g. Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago in Mesoamerica region. And a technical meeting was held on 24-25 August, discussed experiences, lesson learned and improvements to be done to the emergency response process for HPAI in the country, followed by the official closing ceremony with the national authorities.
• An HPAI simulation exercise was conducted in Trinidad and Tobago from 27 to 31 August under the Technical Cooperation Programme: Animal Disease Outbreak Response in Trinidad and Tobago. The activities included a tabletop simulation on both islands, field and laboratory drills as well as emergency communicational training. Around 100 participants actively participated in the activities. [link]

• Africa
• The subregional strategy for prevention and control of avian influenza in West Africa (2026–2031) was updated and technically validated by experts and stakeholders from all 15 West African countries during a regional workshop held in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau supported by an FAO technical cooperation programme project. The verified strategy was then endorsed at the ministerial session of the 11th Regional Animal Health Network meeting in Lomé, Togo on 8 October 2026.
• As part of the World Bank Pandemic Fund project in Africa, FAO is supporting some veterinary laboratories in Sub-Saharan African countries namely Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia in their participation in the proficiency testing for the diagnosis of avian influenza (AI), Newcastle disease (ND), and rabies, coordinated by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe, FAO Reference Centre for avian influenza) in Padua, Italy.
• FAO organized a regional training workshop on transport of infectious substances in accordance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) as part of the World Bank Pandemic Fund project in Africa. The training course, to be held in Rwanda from 7 to 11 September 2026, trained participants from veterinary laboratories in 10 sub-Saharan African countries namely Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• FAO Burundi has recently supported several initiatives aiming at strengthening surveillance, diagnosis and preparedness for health emergencies, as part of efforts to early detect, prevent and control HPAI. These initiatives include the development, updating, validation and harmonisation of standard operating procedures for the safe handling of biological samples for the benefit of the National Veterinary Laboratory.
• In the Gambia, with support from FAO and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Department of Livestock Services has validated a new HPAI contingency plan, upgraded its laboratory to run PCR tests and deployed rapid test kits for field testing. Personnel continue to be trained to use FAO Event Mobile Application (EMA-i) and KoboCollect for real-time reporting.
• FAO is leading field missions in Ghana under the Ghana Pandemic Fund project to plan infrastructure renovations at its seven regional veterinary laboratories to boost their diagnostic capacities. The renovation would enhance capacity of laboratories in high-density poultry zones which is critical to effectively detecting and characterize infectious agents including avian influenza.
• In Madagascar, FAO, in collaboration with the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar and the Veterinary Services (Directorate and National Laboratory), is supporting integrated surveillance of priority zoonoses, including avian influenza, in two regions from October 2026 to March 2027. Training sessions have been conducted in the Haute Matsiatra and Atsimo Andrefana regions, focusing on strengthening participants’ capacities in the referral, detection and alert, sampling, preparation, packaging, transport, reception and traceability of animal biological samples for zoonotic disease surveillance, including HPAI, in line with relevant national and international standards and requirements.
• In Nigeria, ahead of HPAI high-season, HPAI investigation and biosecurity enforcement training for veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals was conducted in Lagos, Oyo, Enugu, Delta, Kano, Plateau and Taraba states during August – September 2026.

• North Africa and Middle East
• Regional One Health Coordination Mechanism (ROHCM) continues to function as the ongoing regional governance structure, bringing together the Quadripartite Regional One Health Coordination Group and its three technical working groups (Zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance [AMR], Food Safety). The mechanism is guided by the endorsed Regional One Health Action Plan (2025–2027) and remains the backbone for coordinated One Health implementation across the region. The current conflict situation in the region is adding substantial complexity to the implementation of ongoing activities across multiple sectors; however, efforts continue at regional and country levels to limit its impact and maintain progress wherever possible.
• In Tunisia, FAO trained 30 veterinarians from 11 to 13 August 2026 under the ASCO (Appui aux Services de Contrôles Officiels des Produits Animaux et Végétaux) project to strengthen the prevention, early detection and management of health risks in poultry farms. This three-day training combined biosecurity, inspection procedures, regulatory knowledge, crisis management and practical exercises to harmonize veterinary controls and enhance the resilience of the poultry sector, with a second session scheduled from 1 to 3 September 2026.

• Europe and Central Asia
• FAO participated to the annual meeting of the European Union Reference Laboratories on avian influenza and Newcastle disease on 21-22 October 2026 held in Trieste, Italy.

• Asia and the Pacific
• In Cambodia, FAO continued strengthening technical field capacity to the animal health officers at sub-national level including: In July, the After Action Review (AAR) for A/H5N1 Outbreak Response was conducted in Svay Rieng province on 23 July, co-organized with the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP), attended by officers from the OAHP of Svay Rieng province, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Environment (MoE), General Directorate of Forestry and Wildlife (GDFo), WHO and several development partners including Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Agronomes & vétérinaires sans frontières (AVSF) and local authorities from the province. In August, the second-round training on HPAI virus Decontamination in the Field was held on 19–20 August, trained 33 national and provincial animal health and production offices from 9 provinces on practical knowledge based on FAO and GDAHP’s updated Technical Guidelines for HPAI Decontamination. Besides the technical guidance, participants are putting knowledge into practice through hands-on exercises, including preparing disinfectants, correctly using PPE and applying decontamination procedures in practical settings.
• In Lao PDR, FAO supported Rapid Response Team training in Bokeo Province from 30 June to 2 July 2026 to strengthen provincial preparedness for avian influenza outbreaks, including surveillance, outbreak investigation, biosafety, risk communication, and sample collection.
• In Nepal, FAO supported to conduct 2 slots of rapid response team (RRT) trainings during 16-17 July and 21-22 July 2026 in Kathmandu valley reaching to 60 animal health professionals to tackle with the increasing highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Likewise, an emergency supply of PCR kits was provided to the Central Veterinary Laboratory to aid in rapid diagnosis of HPAI.
• On 11 August, FAO supported a poultry sector assessment workshop in Niue to better understand the current state of the poultry sector, including its key challenges and opportunities. The consultation workshop brought together village council representatives, government agencies, poultry producers, and other stakeholders to validate assessment findings, identify priority issues, and develop practical recommendations to strengthen poultry production across Niue. [link]
• In Pakistan, FAO has developed the National Guidelines for Sample Collection and Referral Mechanism. A Consultative Workshop was held on 29–30 July 2026 in Islamabad, under the FAO-implemented component of the Pakistan Pandemic Fund project, brought together animal health laboratory’s dedicated personnel from the federal reference laboratories and provincial veterinary diagnostic laboratories, together with academia, the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), University of Sargodha, and Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi. The main objective was to review current field practices, refine national guidelines, and specific requirements for implementation and training plan for zoonotic disease sample collection, transportation and referral mechanism.
• FAO Pakistan and Pakistan National Veterinary Laboratory (NVL) organized the Animal Health Laboratory Networking Group (#NLNG, established since 2020) on 31 July 2026 in Islamabad with support from Pakistan Pandemic Fund project. The meeting brought together animal health laboratories, provincial livestock authorities, academia, and development partners to discuss and find consensus on national strategic laboratory priorities that will strengthen animal health laboratory systems for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, while promoting coordinated networking among federal and provincial veterinary laboratories.
• In the Philippines, FAO conducted Local Animal Disease Detection and Emergency Response (LADDER) Training in Negros Island Region and Region 9, which includes activities such as Tabletop Simulation Exercise on Avian Influenza, disease investigation, proper PPE and sample collection, among others to increase awareness and strengthen local preparedness on avian influenza and other transboundary animal diseases. Through this LADDER Training, the FAO also promotes as provide training on the use of Animal Disease Incident Reporting (ADIR) developed by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
• FAO partnered with the national and provincial veterinary authorities of the Philippines to conduct Animal Biosecurity Champions Training (ABCT) in Quezon, Cagayan, and Albay provinces – covering 411 farmers in 36 Barangays (communities). Through interactive training, the activity strengthened the capacity of animal health workers and farmers to assess biosecurity, recognize and report animal diseases, and apply practical, context-appropriate biosecurity measures.
• FAO is planning to conduct an HPAI awareness and preparedness training in Solomon Islands in early October. In addition to staff from Biosecurity, Livestock, and Extension services, selected provincial staff will also participate in the training. The training will strengthen Solomon Islands’ capacity for HPAI prevention and preparedness, including the early identification, reporting, and communication of suspected cases, as well as an understanding of the basic procedures and actions to be undertaken in response to a suspected HPAI incident.
• In July, FAO supported a poultry capacity-building mission in Tuvalu, to help strengthen local egg production through practical farm management training, enhanced government–farmer collaboration, and improved disease preparedness. The mission provided hands-on training in Funafuti, Tuvalu on poultry production, biosecurity, animal welfare, record-keeping, and cost-of-production analysis. Participants also received training on avian influenza awareness and preparedness to support disease prevention and early detection. [link]
• In Viet Nam, FAO, in collaboration with the Department of Animal Health and Production (DAHP) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is conducting active surveillance for avian influenza along the poultry value chain between September and December 2026.

Recommendations for affected countries and those at risk

For high-level, the recommendations from the FAO Global Dialogue - Tackling high pathogenicity avian influenza together provide a clear framework for coordinated science-based actions on Early detection, Rapid response, Biosecurity, Vaccination, Business and trade dimensions, One Health and systems-based approaches, Public-private partnerships.

For grass root level. the practical recommendations for day-to-day activities are suggested below to mitigate risk and reduce impact of HPAI.

General recommendations
It is important to report sick or dead birds – both wild birds and poultry - or wild mammals to local authorities (veterinary services, public health officials, community leaders etc.). These should be tested for avian influenza viruses.

Recommendations to poultry producers
Farmers and poultry producers should step up their biosecurity measures in order to prevent potential virus introduction from wild birds or their faeces.

For full recommendations including non-avian species please see [link].

Important links

• FAO Avian influenza dashboard [link]
• FAO, WHO, WOAH & CMS Global framework to accelerate action on avian influenza
• FAO & WOAH Global strategy for the prevention and control of high pathogenicity avian influenza (2024–2033) - Achieving sustainable, resilient poultry production systems
• FAO Alerts on Avian Influenza
• FAO/WHO/WOAH Updated joint FAO/WHO/WOAH public health assessment of recent influenza A(H5) virus events in animals and people - March 2026
• OECD‑FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026‑2035 [link]
• FAO HPAI website [link1, link2]
• FAO Recommendations from the FAO Global Dialogue - Tackling high pathogenicity avian influenza together.
• FAO Iguaçu statement from the 'Global Science, Policy and Private Sector Dialogue ― Tackling HPAI Together’
• FAO Improving poultry health and productivity - Practical training materials for veterinarians and farmers for better farm management
• FAO Virtual Learning Centers open access course “Introduction to Avian Influenza” - English, Spanish, Portuguese
• FAO Global Farmer Field School Platform
• FAO webinar series on pandemic prevention and response
• FAO Outbreak Costing Tool (OutCosT) and its webinar “Estimating the costs of disease outbreaks: Application of the OutCost tool” [recording]
• FAO Emergency and response to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Central America, South America and the Caribbean - Regional technical report for the period October 2022 to September 2024 – English, Spanish
• FAO An evidence-based approach towards improving poultry biosecurity in Ashaiman Municipal District (Greater Accra Region, Ghana)
• FAO Biosecurity and epidemiological surveillance in backyard production systems - Spanish
• GF-TADs webinar: Update on latest initiatives for avian influenza prevention and control [webinar1, webinar2]
• OFFLU website
• OFFLU Beyond poultry: Rethinking monitoring and control of HPAI H5Nx anticipating spillover risks for mammals
• OFFLU Guidelines for High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus Risk Mitigation in Cattle
• ggFlu - global H5 genotyping system public web server
• EFSA Avian influenza overview June-August 2026
• PAHO Epidemiological Update Avian Influenza A(H5N1) in the Americas Region, 26 August 2026
• Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds H5N1 High pathogenicity avian influenza in wild birds - Unprecedented conservation impacts and urgent needs
• WHO Influenza at the human-animal interface summary and assessment, 6 September2026
• WOAH High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) Situation Report 87, 15 October 2026
• WOAH Surveillance of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza for Smallholder Poultry Systems in Resource-Limited Settings
• The list of wild bird and mammalian species which have been infected with H5Nx HPAI [link]

Note: many publication links have been moved into ‘More important links’ below.

Disclaimer

Information provided herein is current as of the date of issue. Information added or changed since the last Global AIV with Zoonotic Potential situation update appears in orange. Human cases are depicted in the geographic location of their report. For some cases, exposure may have occurred in one geographic location but reported in another. For cases with unknown onset date, reporting date was used instead. FAO compiles information drawn from multiple national (Ministries of Agriculture or Livestock, Ministries of Health, Provincial Government websites; Centers for Disease Prevention and Control [CDC]) and international sources (World Health Organization [WHO], World Organisation for Animal Health [WOAH]), as well as peer reviewed scientific articles. FAO makes every effort to ensure, but does not guarantee, accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. Dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement.