Webinar : Launch of guidelines on “Surveillance of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza for Smallholder Poultry Systems in Resource-Limited Settings”

Replay

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) of the world face several challenges in preventing and responding to avian influenza outbreaks, particularly among small holder poultry systems (SHPS), also referred to as backyard or village poultry systems. Low sensitivity surveillance systems in SHPS hinder early detection, thereby increasing the spread of the virus. Furthermore, conventional surveillance programmes often demand substantial and ongoing funding while lacking the flexibility to address the full range of disease surveillance needs in SHPS, particularly where resources are constrained.

In the 90th WOAH General Session in May 2023, following the animal health forum and technical item on avian influenza, Resolution No.28 was adopted that include the recommendation (Number 6) to support poultry keepers, particularly smallholders, in implementing correct usage of disease preventive and control tools, such as enhanced biosecurity, early identification of clinical signs, and reporting, to prevent the introduction and spread of HPAI. It was identified as a need to provide Members with practical surveillance guidelines targeting small-scale poultry farmers (backyard), tailored to the local socio-economic context.

To this end, WOAH has published the practical guideline on Surveillance of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza for Smallholder Poultry Systems in Resource-Limited Settings, tailored to local contexts, to safeguard farmers’ livelihoods and ensuring the stability of the poultry industry. The guidelines provide practical recommendations to assist Veterinary Authorities (VA) and Veterinary Services (VS) in designing surveillance programmes for the detection of HPAIV in SHPS, tailored to the needs and contexts of resource-limited settings.  

To present these guidelines, the launch webinar will be offered in English. The guidelines will also be made available in French and Spanish in due course.

Agenda

Time	Topic	Speakers
12.30 – 12.35pm	Opening remarks	Dr Baba Soumare WOAH DDG-Global Framework and Capacity Building
12.35 – 12.40pm	Drafting of the guidelines (Background and process)	Dr Gounalan Pavade Senior Scientific Coordinator, WOAH
12.40 – 13.10pm	Overview of the guidelines	Dr Sergio Guerrero Sanchez and Dr Angus Lam   Centre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice, City University of Hong Kong
13.10 – 13.20pm	Member’s experience  (HPAI surveillance in smallholder poultry systems – Asia)	Dr Sothyra Tum National Animal Health and Production Research Institute, Cambodia
13.20 – 13.30pm	Member’s experience (HPAI surveillance in smallholder poultry systems – Africa)	Dr Clement Meseko National Veterinary Research Institute, Nigeria
13.30 – 13.40pm	Member’s experience (HPAI surveillance in smallholder poultry systems – Americas)	Dr Christopher Hamilton-West University Chile, Chile
Q & A session (15m)
13.55 – 14.00pm	Next steps and closing	Dr Gregorio Torres Head Science department, WOAH