FAO Urges Urgent Action to Combat Rising Avian Influenza Cases in Asia-Pacific

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for immediate measures to tackle a surge in avian influenza cases across the Asia-Pacific region, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

Key recommendations include improved surveillance, rapid diagnostics, cross-sector collaboration, enhanced biosafety in poultry, and increased public awareness. Recent outbreaks in Cambodia, China, and Vietnam have prompted this urgent response, with the FAO reporting 13 new human cases in Cambodia alone.

The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain has also spread to South America and Antarctica, affecting various animal species, including marine mammals.

FAO regional manager Kachen Wongsathapornchai warned that the emergence of novel, more transmissible A/H5N1 strains heightens the pandemic threat, stressing the need for coordinated preventive measures. The FAO, a specialized UN agency, leads global efforts to combat hunger.