Inform the Member States in Rome, FAO officials requested urgent action to strengthen the mechanisms of biosafety, surveillance and rapid response to stop the outbreak.
The deputy director general of the FAO, Godfrey Magwenzi, emphasized that the crisis threatens to have “serious impacts on food security and food supply in countries, including loss of valuable nutrition, rural jobs and income, shocks to local economies and, of course, increase costs for consumers. “
With millions depending on poultry for meat and eggs, the challenge is not only to contain the virus but also to protect food production systems.
The economic impact also feels worldwide. For example, egg prices reached a record in the United States during February according to the US Consumer Price Index, with farmers forced to kill more than 166 million birds so far in total, since the avian flu has spread, mainly eggs chickens.
So far this year, more than 30 million birds in the United States have been killed, according to news reports.
Necessary coordinated response
The attached general director of the FAO, Beth Bechdol, stressed the need for a coordinated global response, calling H5N1 A “cross -border” threat that no country can address alone.
To address the crisis, FAO and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) have launched a ten -year global strategy for the prevention and control of high pathogenicity avian influenza.
“A chain is as strong as its weakest link. When working together, we can reduce the impact of avian influenza and protect animal and human health. – local and globally, ”said Mrs. Bechdol.
In the last four years, H5N1 has expanded to new regions, causing massive losses in national birds, interrupting the food supply and raising the prices of poultry.
At least 300 new species of wild birds have been affected since 2021, raising a serious threat to biodiversity.
Collective action and innovation
FAO reaffirmed its commitment to global monitoring, data exchange and technical orientation to help countries contain the virus.
Mrs. Bechdol also emphasized the importance of private sector commitment, particularly in Development of vaccines, diagnoses and high quality animal health services.
The informative session also included a third call for financing proposals under the Pandemic Fund, organized by the World Bank.
In the last two years, FAO has dozens of pandemian funds projects aimed at strengthening disease surveillance, early alert systems and health infrastructure to prevent future outbreaks.
