One Health approach to avian influenza: Protecting food security and human health

Avian influenza poses a significant threat to global food security, livelihoods, public and animal health. As highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to spread across continents through migratory waterfowl and evolve through viral reassortment, a coordinated One Health approach has become essential for effective prevention and control.

Avian influenza viruses naturally circulate among wild birds but can spill over into domestic poultry. While many are low pathogenic and may cause mild disease, some can mutate or already exist as highly pathogenic strains. Rapid spread in low biosecurity poultry systems can cause high mortality in birds or culling of infected flocks with devastating economic losses and threatening food security. Beyond economic impacts, HPAI outbreaks have profound consequences for wildlife health and biodiversity conservation. Mass mortality events in wild bird populations, including endangered species, disrupt ecological balance and threaten conservation efforts worldwide. The virus's ability to cross species barriers has become increasingly evident with recent transmissions to mammals, particularly concerning developments in cattle. The virus's ability to cross species barriers raises serious concerns about pandemic risk to human health. With poultry serving as a major protein source globally, protecting agrifood systems from avian influenza is crucial for sustainable food supply while safeguarding wildlife populations and ecosystem integrity.

The complex nature of avian influenza transmission – spanning wildlife, domestic animals, and humans – requires integrated action across multiple sectors and governance levels.

Global coordination in action

Since the large-scale HPAI H5N1 outbreak in 2004, FAO has spearheaded collaborative efforts to combat avian influenza through coordinated and collaborative, cross-sectoral action. Recognizing the critical role of migratory wild birds in viral spread, FAO partners with the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and other international wildlife organizations to develop coordinated surveillance and response strategies across ecological zones.

CMS plays a pivotal role in wildlife health protection by coordinating international efforts to monitor and conserve migratory species affected by HPAI. This partnership has produced joint guidance and risk assessment tools that facilitate wild bird population monitoring while promoting non-lethal mitigation measures aligned with biodiversity conservation objectives.

The Quadripartite collaboration between FAO, WHO, WOAH, and UNEP has further institutionalized One Health governance for avian influenza. Through joint technical guidance, early warning systems, and collaborative risk assessments, these organizations support countries in establishing comprehensive surveillance frameworks spanning the animal-human-ecosystem interface.

National implementation

Effective avian influenza management requires coordination across traditionally siloed sectors – livestock management, wildlife conservation, and human health. Several countries have adopted legislative and policy frameworks reflecting One Health governance models.

The United States' National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats facilitates coordination across public health, agriculture, wildlife, and homeland security agencies. Countries including Albania, Andorra, and Azerbaijan have established multisectoral government coordination structures involving agriculture, health, environment, and private sector representatives.

National One Health interventions typically establish:

• Multi-agency task forces for integrated surveillance
• Joint laboratory networks and unified reporting systems
• Legal provisions for mandatory reporting and shared epidemiological data access
• Cross-training programs for personnel across sectors
• National wildlife contingency plans that integrate conservation priorities with disease surveillance and response protocols

Innovation and early warning

FAO has developed cutting-edge tools to enhance preparedness and response capabilities. A geospatial early warning platform provides real-time monitoring and forecasting of animal diseases, with a public dashboard launching soon.

The avian influenza decision support tool represents a significant advancement in outbreak forecasting, predicting high-risk spillover areas by mapping interactions between wild and domestic birds worldwide. This tool will soon be available to the public, enabling proactive risk management.

Lessons learned

The global response to avian influenza has demonstrated that collective approaches to monitoring and preparedness are essential. While viral emergence remains unpredictable, continuous capacity development has enabled swifter diagnosis and response, minimizing losses. Ongoing biosecurity improvements further mitigate infection risks for both animals and humans.

Key success factors include:

• Systematic coordinated approaches with timely information sharing
• Inter-regional sharing of information and best practices
• Legislative frameworks that institutionalize multisectoral collaboration
• Clear mandates and responsibilities for surveillance and response

Looking forward

The integration of One Health principles into avian influenza management offers a concrete illustration of how coordinated action can address complex health challenges. The 2022 launch of the One Health Joint Plan of Action amid HPAI spillover to the Americas, followed by the Global strategy for the prevention and control of high pathogenicity avian influenza (2024–2033), demonstrates continued commitment to integrated approaches.

Legislation plays a crucial role in operationalizing One Health by providing formal mechanisms for cross-sectoral coordination, preventing fragmentation, and promoting information sharing. Such frameworks not only enhance coherence and legal certainty but also establish One Health as a normative foundation for pandemic preparedness and biosecurity.

The cost of inaction far exceeds the investment required for prevention – delayed responses risk catastrophic losses to agricultural economies, biodiversity collapse, and potential human pandemic threats.

As avian influenza continues to evolve and spread, maintaining robust One Health governance structures will remain essential for protecting global food security, public health, wildlife populations, and environmental sustainability.