FAO: Call to Strengthen Prevention, Surveillance, and Preparedness against HPAI in Latin America and the Caribbean

 

#19,383

Although HPAI H5 has reached nearly every corner of the world, reporting from many regions remains spotty at best. Sometimes this data is deliberately withheld for political or economic reasons, but often it is due to a lack of resources, or difficulties conducting surveillance in remote or uninhabited regions. 

The FAO's map of 2025-2026 Global AIV activity illustrates these gaps:

Large swaths of Asia, Africa, South and Central America, and Northern Canada are essentially a blank slate. Yet we know, based on bird migratory patterns (flyways), that HPAI incursions almost certainly are occurring. 

Major Global Migratory Flyways – Credit FAO

Last week the FAO issued an alert to Latin American and Caribbean nations advising them to strengthen their surveillance for - and preparedness against - HPAI as the coming months are likely to see an increased risk for outbreaks. 

Due to its length, I've only posted some excerpts. Follow the link to read the document in its entirety.  I'll have a brief postscript after the break.

CALL TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTION, SURVEILLANCE AND PREPAREDNESS MEASURES AGAINST HIGH PATHOGENICITY AVIAN INFLUENZA IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

16 October 2026

Given the continued circulation of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses in the Americas and the proximity of a period of increased risk associated with the seasonal movements of migratory wild birds from the northern hemisphere to Latin America and the Caribbean, FAO calls on official veterinary services, public health authorities, poultry producers and other stakeholders involved in animal health to strengthen prevention, surveillance, early detection and response preparedness measures against this disease.

HPAI continues to pose a health threat to poultry, wildlife and potentially other animal species and people. Avian influenza A(H5) viruses have continued to circulate across the continent in 2026. More than 10 countries in the Americas have reported over 1 000 outbreaks and cases in domestic, wild and mammalian animals, according to data from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the countries.

Experience over the past few years shows that wild birds, particularly migratory waterbirds, can play an important role in the geographical spread of avian influenza viruses. The migration and concentration of birds from different geographical areas provide opportunities for virus circulation and can increase the risk of introduction of the virus into domestic bird populations. According to official WOAH data and analysis of FAO EMPRES-i+ data over the past few years, HPAI outbreaks tend to increase from October and reach their highest levels during the following months.

For this reason, the coming period requires increased vigilance and preparedness, especially in countries, territories and areas along migratory routes, in wetlands, lagoons, coastal areas or other places where wild birds congregate, and in areas where poultry farms are located close to these environments.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects domestic and wild birds. However, during the current epidemiological situation, infections have also been identified in various species of terrestrial and marine mammals.

In addition, certain avian influenza viruses have zoonotic potential and can occasionally infect humans, mainly in situations of close contact and without adequate protection with infected animals or contaminated environments. Although the risk to the general population is still considered low, surveillance should be maintained, especially among people with occupational or frequent exposure to potentially infected animals (Pan American Health Organization, (Pan American Health Organization, PAHO).

Based on the FAO-WOAH Global strategy for the prevention and control of high pathogenicity avian influenza (2024-2033) – Achieving sustainable, resilient poultry production systems, the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean provides specific recommendations for veterinary services and poultry producers.

(Continue . . . )

 

While it is impossible to achieve anything approaching 100% surveillance, the more information we can gather and share, the less likely we are to be blindsided by an abrupt evolutionary change in the virus. 

But whether that is enough of an incentive to see real change in the amount and quality of global surveillance and reporting on HPAI remains to be seen.