The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has raised alarms over the rapid global spread of the H5N1 avian flu virus, which has led to the loss of hundreds of millions of birds and increased spillover into mammals. This crisis poses significant threats to food security and employment worldwide, as FAO appeals for urgent international action to bolster biosecurity and response mechanisms.
With poultry being a crucial source of meat and eggs globally, the escalating avian flu situation could severely disrupt food production systems, impacting rural jobs and local economies. In the United States, egg prices have soared to record highs due to the culling of over 166 million birds, primarily egg-laying chickens. This avian flu outbreak is not confined by borders, as evidenced by its expansion into new regions and its impact on biodiversity, affecting over 300 new wild bird species since 2021.
FAO emphasises the necessity of a globally coordinated response, spearheaded by the ten-year Global Strategy for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control. By engaging the private sector in vaccine and diagnostic development, and with continued investment in disease surveillance and health infrastructure, a collective effort could mitigate the impact on global food supplies and employment. This unified approach is essential to safeguard both human and animal health now and in the future.
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