FAO recommendations for Global Avian Influenza Viruses with Zoonotic Potential

Recommendations for affected countries and those at risk

FAO recommends intensified surveillance and awareness raising by national authorities.

It’s good to start with a small situation analysis on distribution / geographical coverage of avian influenza viruses and some consequences / socio-eco impact, which justifies the below recommendations.

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.
• Wash hands properly and often. You should always do so after handling birds or other animals, when cooking or preparing animal products, and before eating.
• Eat only well-cooked meat products, and refrain from collecting, consuming, selling or sharing animals found sick or dead.
• Seek immediate advice from your physician if you show signs of fever after being in contact with poultry, farmed birds, wild birds or other animals.

Recommendations to poultry producers

• Farmers and poultry producers should step up their biosecurity measures in order to prevent potential virus introduction from wild birds, animals or their faeces.
• It is important to keep poultry and other animals away from wild birds and their sub-products or droppings through screens, fencing or nets.
• Wash hands properly before and after taking care of poultry.
• Wear face mask when taking care of poultry or cleaning their house (the same masks recommended during COVID-19).
• Commercial poultry operations and backyard poultry owners should avoid the introduction of pathogens through contaminated clothes, footwear, vehicles or equipment used in hunting wild animals.

Recommendations with regards to wildlife/environment

• There is no benefit to be gained in attempting to control the virus in wild birds through culling or habitat destruction. Spraying of birds or the environment with disinfectant – for example sodium hypochlorite or bleach – is considered potentially counter-productive, harmful to the environment and not effective from a disease control perspective.
• There is also no justification for any 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 maybe applied.

Recommendations to hunters

• Hunting associations and wildlife authorities should be aware that avian influenza viruses with zoonotic potential might be present in waterfowl and some other species hunted and that hunting, handling and dressing of shot game carries the risk of spreading avian influenza viruses to susceptible poultry.
• Avoid introduction of avian influenza viruses to poultry and other susceptible speciesthrough fomites (clothing, boots, vehicles, etc.) and do not feed wild birds scraps to poultry.
• Water bird scraps should not be fed to domestic animals (cats, dogs, or poultry).
• Any waste from hunted game should be treated as potentially contaminated and safely disposed of.
• Report local authorities (veterinary services, public health officials, community leaders etc.) if they spot dead wild animals such as red fox.

Recommendations to national authorities

• Increase surveillance efforts for the early detection of influenza viruses with zoonotic potential in poultry and dead wild species including certain mammals.
• Provide means for reporting sick or dead birds and wild animals, e.g. hotlines and collection points.
• Raise awareness of the general population, poultry producers or marketers and hunters both about the disease as well as the reporting mechanisms for sick or dead birds and wild mammals.
• Collaborate with hunting associations for laboratory testing of hunted birds, especially in areas that are known to be affected.
• Provide means for and ensure proper disposal of carcases after sample collection.
• Ensure that the means for laboratory testing are in place to detect the currently circulating avian influenza viruses, especially those of clade 2.3.4.4b.
• Timely reporting of avian influenza virus detections in mammals is recommended, including the species, numbers of infected animals, place where the animals were found, the characteristics of the viruses if known.
• Gene sequencing should be performed for all H5 viruses detected, either in national or international reference laboratories. FAO can assist with the shipment of samples. Results should be shared with the global community in a timely manner to aid understanding of how the virus is spreading.
• Action on wild birds not recommended.