Consolidating expertise to strengthen global preparedness for animal influenza

With highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continuing to have global impacts and increasing reports of spread to mammals including cattle, the joint  World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and FAO Network of Expertise on Animal Influenza (OFFLU) recently convened a global technical meeting at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Held from 2 to 4 July 2024, the meeting deliberated on strategic discussions around emerging challenges and priorities in animal influenza management as well as the development of strategic plans  to effectively address these challenges.

Through OFFLU, scientific evidence is consolidated and shared to support the prevention and control of animal influenza worldwide. The network brings together experts from various disciplines, including the human/animal interface, applied epidemiology, and socioeconomics as well as dedicated groups on avian, wildlife, equine and swine influenza.

The network plays a crucial role in enhancing global preparedness and response to influenza outbreaks. By convening its experts, it strengthens collaborations that are crucial to addressing the challenges ahead.

Although OFFLU, FAO and WOAH have hosted numerous meetings related to the unprecedented increase in avian influenza, the previous OFFLU meeting that brought together all groups was held in April 2018 in Brighton, UK. This latest meeting seeks to review the modus operandi of the network and update how the groups work, both independently and together. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen collaboration and networking among OFFLU members across the various activities by identifying synergies and overlaps to optimize the support OFFLU can give to stakeholders involved in influenza management at the global, regional, and national levels.

By pooling representatives from organizations such as FAO, WOAH, World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, The European Food Safety Authority, Health for Animals, and the VIVACE Consortium, the meeting presented a valuable opportunity to advance global efforts in influenza control. The outputs from this meeting will feed into the Global HPAI Strategy and the Quadripartite One Health Joint Plan of Action, ultimately contributing to strengthened global preparedness and response and safeguarding animal health, public health and food security.