Phnom Penh: UN-FAO Cambodia launched the new project “Evidence Based Risk Management Along the Livestock Production and Market Chain” on 10 November. The project will focus on Takeo province and support improvement of the Takeo live bird market since current research suggests that Takeo province, in particular the livebird market, have high levels of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 circulation in the poultry population.  
In Cambodia, the HPAI/H5N1 was firstly found in the poultry population in 2004, and the virus has since spread quickly across the country, infecting humans and poultry with high levels of mortality.
Live Bird Markets (LBMs) are considered a key pathway in the HPAI epidemiology and of major public health concern as hygiene precautions are limited and a large number of birds from different sources aggregate, including species able to maintain silent infection. A longitudinal surveillance conducted over the past four years in Key LBMs, duck flocks and slaughter points by the Institute Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) and the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (NAHPRI) with the support of FAO, Influenza A virus (IAV) was detected in 4-50% of ducks and 18-40% of chickens. It was also established that peak influenza virus circulation in Cambodia corresponds to periods of national festivals in January/February, April, September, and November.
Building on experiences and based on existing evidence, the project implementation will focus on risk intervention with the mains objective to support biosecurity and biosafety improvement of the Takeo live bird markets and its poultry value chain both physical and functional facilities as well as practices.  The implantation target specific risk mitigation of HPAI introduction, spread, and spill-over. Within the lifespan of 15 months, FAO will work with the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP) as implementing agency, and engage relevant stakeholders at all levels, government institutions, development partners, private sector, communities, gender groups, and consumers.

"This project is supported by the United States Agency for International Development and the Australian Government."