Avian and pandemic influenza : The FAO response, a selection of material: The FAO Response - December 2007

Over the last four years, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the H5N1 subtype have spread from Asia to Europe , the Middle East and Africa , causing severe disease in poultry and humans.

In those four years, numerous meetings have been organised and studies carried out on specific aspects of the disease, the socioeconomic impact of the disease on households and communities, the threat of a pandemic, and the communication strategies needed to reduce the risk of disease in animals and humans.

In late June 2007, FAO, OIE and WHO, in collaboration with UNICEF and the UN System Influenza Coordinator (UNSIC), organised a Technical Workshop to consolidate information on achievements and opinion derived from earlier work on the disease, examine contentious technical issues relating to disease control and, where possible, achieve consensus on the technical issues surrounding the prevention and control of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza and human pandemic influenza preparedness.

Along with other reports, strategies, manuals, guidelines and key documents, the report of that meeting is presented in this CD-ROM as a contribution to the continuing debate on HPAI H5N1. It highlights the recommendations and conclusions from the workshop with the greatest policy relevance, and provides background briefing on the current status of HP AI control and the issues that need to be considered in moving towards longer term support for infected countries and for countries that are not yet prepared for emergence of a novel human pandemic virus.