In 2024, wildfires burned approximately 2.6 million hectares of the Pantanal, one of the world’s largest tropical wetlands and one of its richest biodiversity hotspots, destroying habitat for countless wild animals while threatening livestock production and rural livelihoods. The Pantanal is only one example of a growing global challenge. In recent years, severe wildfires have affected Southern Europe, the Amazon Basin, Oceania, parts of North America and many tropical regions, demonstrating that no region is immune.

In 2025, an estimated 335 million hectares burned worldwide, illustrating that increasingly severe wildfire seasons are affecting ecosystems, livestock, wildlife and communities across every inhabited continent.

As highlighted in the State of the World’s Animal Health 2026 report, the world is facing increasingly complex animal health risks driven by climate change, shifting ecosystems and growing pressure on Veterinary Services. In 2026, El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is further exacerbating drought and extreme weather conditions around the world, increasing the risk and severity of wildfires. Building resilient Veterinary Services is therefore not only an investment in animal health, but also an investment in preparedness for the climate- and environment-related emergencies that are becoming more frequent and more complex. 

While the devastating impacts of wildfires on people and the environment are widely recognised, their consequences for animals can often receive less attention. Wildfires can cause widespread animal suffering and mortality, disrupt livestock production, destroy habitats and biodiversity, and undermine the livelihoods of rural communities. They can also reshape the way wildlife, farm animals and people interact long after the flames have been extinguished. Displaced wildlife may move into farming areas as well as human settlements, livestock are often relocated across regions, and damaged ecosystems can alter disease dynamics and disease transmission mechanisms. These cascading effects demonstrate why wildfire preparedness requires coordinated action across animal health, public health, environmental and emergency management sectors. 

Veterinary Services are uniquely positioned to contribute throughout the disaster management cycle. Before wildfires occur, they support prevention (for instance, through promotion of grazing and land use planning), preparedness and emergency planning. During emergencies, they contribute to animal evacuation, emergency veterinary treatment, animal welfare assessments and coordination with emergency responders. In the recovery phase, Veterinary Services help restore essential animal health services, strengthen disease surveillance, monitor the health of livestock and wildlife, and support the recovery of rural livelihoods and affected ecosystems. 

Protecting animal health and welfare during wildfires also strengthens food security, safeguards biodiversity, supports livelihoods and reinforces community resilience. Integrating Veterinary Services into wildfire preparedness is therefore not only about protecting animals, it is about strengthening the resilience of interconnected human, animal and environmental systems. 

Despite their critical contribution, Veterinary Services remain insufficiently integrated into national disaster and emergency management systems in many countries. Strengthening their inclusion before, during and after emergencies will help ensure that animal health and welfare are systematically considered as part of disaster risk reduction and response. 

Across diverse regions, WOAH Members are already demonstrating the value of integrating veterinary expertise into emergency management. In Australia, veterinarians are integrated into emergency animal management through preparedness, response and recovery planning, working alongside emergency authorities to support animal welfare, livestock protection and community resilience during bushfires and other natural disasters. In Brazil, veterinary professionals have played a central role in wildlife rescue, emergency treatment and rehabilitation during the Pantanal wildfires, demonstrating the contribution of veterinary expertise to disaster response in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. 

WOAH’s existing international framework provides a strong foundation for this work through its Guidelines on Disaster Management and Risk Reduction in relation to Animal Health and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health, relevant international standards on animal health and welfare, and its commitment to advancing the One Health approach. WOAH also supports Members through training and capacity-building on emergency management using an all-hazards approach, helping strengthen preparedness for a wide range of emergencies, including climate-related disasters. 

WOAH therefore encourages its Members to: 

• integrate animal health and welfare, including wildlife, into national wildfire preparedness, response and recovery plans;  

• strengthen collaboration between Veterinary Services, emergency management authorities, environmental agencies, wildlife authorities and other relevant partners;  

• invest in resilient Veterinary Services and animal health systems capable of responding effectively to climate- and disaster-related emergencies;  

• adopt a whole-of-society approach that promotes prevention, preparedness and resilient land management, to reduce the impacts of future wildfire emergencies; and  

• promote preparedness measures that protect domestic animals, livestock and wildlife while supporting resilient communities.  

As wildfire risks continue to grow, protecting animals cannot remain an afterthought. Integrating Veterinary Services into national disaster management systems helps ensure that emergency responses protect not only people, but also the animals, livelihoods and ecosystems that underpin resilient societies. Through its international standards, technical expertise and global network of Members, WOAH remains committed to supporting countries in building resilient Veterinary Services that are equipped to respond to the challenges of a changing world. 

The detection of sustained rabies transmission in Cape fur seals in southern Africa marks an unprecedented development in the ecology of rabies and raises important questions for wildlife conservation, animal public health and transboundary disease preparedness. 

Since 2024, more than 100 cases of rabies have been confirmed in Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) in South Africa and Namibia. Retrospective testing and genetic analyses indicate that sustained transmission within the seal population began several years before the disease was detected. 

Current evidence suggests that the outbreak originated from a single spillover event involving a dog-related rabies virus variant maintained by black-backed jackals in southern Africa, followed by ongoing transmission between Cape fur seals. This represents the first known establishment of rabies in a free-ranging marine mammal population. 

Affected seals have displayed neurological signs, including abnormal aggression towards people and other animals. As of May 2026, more than 145 human exposure incidents had been reported, highlighting the importance of appropriate public health measures and post-exposure management.

The event also has broader implications for wildlife health. Cape fur seals range across the coasts of South Africa and Namibia and can travel considerable distances, creating opportunities for contact with other marine mammal species. Continued investigation is needed to better understand the ecological consequences of the outbreak and the potential implications for marine mammal populations in other regions. 

The emergence of rabies in Cape fur seals demonstrates how pathogens can adapt to new host species and reinforces the importance of integrated surveillance across wildlife, domestic animals and humans under a One Health approach. Strengthening collaboration between veterinary, wildlife, environmental and public health authorities remains essential for early detection, risk assessment and coordinated response. 

WOAH encourages Members, its wider network and other experts to maintain vigilance for – a rabies-like syndrome in marine mammals, reinforce wildlife disease surveillance and laboratory diagnosis, ensure appropriate protection of personnel handling suspect animals, and continue sustained dog vaccination programmes, which remain the cornerstone of preventing dog-mediated rabies and reducing the risk of spillover into wildlife. 

WOAH will continue to work with Members and partners to monitor and support preparedness, surveillance and response through its expert networks, including the Working Group on Wildlife, the Rabies Reference Laboratory Network and the United Against Rabies Forum.

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On 20 June 2026, WOAH was notified of the first detection of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Australia in a marine wild bird, a migratory brown skua (Stercorarius antarcticus). The virus is related to H5N1 HPAI clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, which is the same subtype that is predominantly circulating in poultry, wild birds, and mammals globally. Enhanced general and targeted surveillance is underway by the animal health authorities to determine the extent of infection. An epidemiological investigation has commenced.

HPAI H5N1 has caused a global panzootic since 2021, affecting wild birds, poultry, and multiple mammalian species. Until recently, Australia remained free of this particular subtype despite widespread international incursions.

Since its emergence, this H5N1 subtype has crossed continents, reaching North and South America in 2022 and extending to the Antarctic islands in 2023. It has since been detected in new host species such as cattle, and marine mammals, caused sporadic human infections, driven exceptionally high activity in wild birds in 2025, and is now being reported in Australia for the first time.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) acknowledges Australia’s immediate notification of Influenza A virus of high pathogenicity in non-poultry birds through the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) and commends Australia for its longstanding commitment to transparency and to the protection of global animal health.

This notification represents a significant epidemiological event, documenting the first detection of HPAI H5N1 in a wild bird in Australia. The finding confirms the incursion of this globally circulating virus lineage into wildlife in a subregion that had remained free from this subtype despite its extensive international spread in other regions and sub-regions. The risk for Australian avifauna, especially endemic bird species is significant.

This detection underscores critical considerations: 

Early detection remains our strongest line of prevention 

Early detection and timely reporting linked to early response measures, are essential in limiting the spread of HPAI and reducing its impact on poultry, livestock, wildlife, livelihoods and human health. This event demonstrates the value of sustained surveillance systems, laboratory capacity and field awareness in identifying emerging threats.

Transparency and solidarity strengthen global preparedness 

Timely reporting through WAHIS allows countries to access official information, assess risks and coordinate responses based on reliable scientific evidence.  

Preparedness requires sustained investment 

Preparedness is best built before an emergency. Recent events demonstrate the cost of waiting. According to WOAH’s State of the World’s Animal Health 2026 report, more than 2,000 outbreaks of HPAI were reported by 64 countries and territories between 2025 and 2026, resulting in the loss or culling of more than 140 million poultry. At the same time, animal health continues to receive only a small fraction – 0.6% – of global health investment. Strong Veterinary Services, well-equipped laboratories, collaboration with WOAH Reference Laboratories, effective surveillance systems, trained personnel, One Health collaboration, international networks of expertise such as OFFLU and emergency preparedness plans do not emerge during a crisis – they are built through sustained investment over time.

Continued national and international investment remains essential to reduce the impact of HPAI and other emerging animal health threats. 

Multisectoral collaboration 

This event also highlights the importance of maintaining strong scientific collaboration networks and engaging stakeholders before emergencies arise. Governments, Veterinary Services, laboratories, researchers, wildlife authorities, public health authorities, industry and international organisations play complementary roles in strengthening preparedness and response.  

WOAH remains committed to supporting its Members through international standards, scientific expertise, capacity building and transparent information sharing. As HPAI continues to evolve globally, continued collaboration, preparedness and collective action remain essential to protect animal health, safeguard livelihoods and strengthen global health security. 

WOAH calls on its Members to:  

• Maintain enhanced avian influenza SURVEILLANCE in domestic and wild birds and consider HPAI in differential diagnosis for other susceptible wild or domestic animal species.   

• REPORT cases of HPAI in all animal species, including in domestic and wild mammals, to WOAH through its World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS)  . Genetic sequences of avian influenza viruses should be shared in publicly available databases. 

• COLLABORATE with public health authorities, wildlife authorities and other relevant partners through a One Health approach to strengthen surveillance, risk assessment, preparedness and response.

• CONSIDER  poultry vaccination  as a possible complementary avian influenza control measure;  PREVENT the introduction and spread of the disease by implementing strict biosecurity measures in poultry holdings and EMPLOY good production and hygiene practices   when handling animal products. Relevant measures notably include keeping poultry away from contact with wild birds, ensuring good hygiene in poultry housing and equipment and reporting bird illnesses and deaths to the Veterinary Services. 

• PROTECT humans and other potentially susceptible mammals (both wild and domestic). People in close contact or exposed to wildlife should always take precautionary measures   to avoid getting infected and minimise the risk of mechanically carrying the virus.   

• AVOID IMPLEMENTING unjustified trade restrictions. Import risk management measures should be scientifically justified and in line with the WOAH International Standards. 

WOAH is fully committed to supporting its Members to mitigate the risks associated with avian influenza. We will continue to engage with our networks of experts, OFFLU, as well as public and private partners, notably through the One Health Quadripartite and the Global Framework for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs)   to provide technical updates as more information becomes available. 

In collaboration with its  Reference Centres, networks of experts and Members including the WOAH WildNet network of collaborating centres on wildlife health, the WOAH remains in close contact with Australian Veterinary Authorities to monitor the situation to assess the risks to poultry,  wildlife, other susceptible animal species and humans. Australia’s rapid detection and transparent reporting demonstrate the value of strong surveillance systems and international cooperation. As HPAI continues to evolve and spread across regions and species, timely information sharing, scientific collaboration and sustained preparedness remain essential to protect animal and public health. Transparent reporting is also critical to maintaining trust, supporting evidence-based decision-making and preventing misinformation and disinformation. 

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) expresses its deep concern following the emergence of the 17th Ebola Virus Disease (Bundibugyo virus) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and potential spread to neighboring countries.

Ebola Virus Disease is a zoonotic disease, transmitted from animals to humans and then between humans. Its repeated emergence is a reminder that human health and animal health are strongly interlinked. While the specific animal reservoir associated with this current outbreak has not yet been identified, scientific evidence from previous outbreaks points to wildlife species, particularly fruit bats and potentially other wild animals as a likely source of transmission. The origin of infection in the current outbreak remains under investigation.

WOAH underscores the importance of stronger surveillance at the animal-human-environmental interface and calls for a stronger rollout of the One Health approach at country, cross-border and regional level. It also reiterates the importance of consistently increasing support for upstream prevention of spillover infection from wildlife to humans and the critical role of well-resourced and competent animal health systems.

Understanding where the virus originates, how it moves between species and where it is likely to re-emerge, requires animal and environmental health systems working in close collaboration with public health systems for effective risk-based surveillance and data sharing.

Strengthening wildlife surveillance and health intelligence, improving risk communication related to wildlife and animal exposure, strengthening veterinary laboratory diagnostics, and ensuring effective coordination among public health, veterinary, wildlife, and environmental sectors are all critical components of preparedness and response to this Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.

WOAH is collaborating with its members and partners to support the animal health dimensions of prevention and preparedness. This includes:

• Strengthening animal health surveillance systems
• Promoting early detection of zoonotic risks
• Supporting risk communication
• Supporting the prevention of spillover events at the animal–human–environment interface
• Increasing knowledge about the virus’s life cycle and role in the epidemiology dynamic

WOAH also continues to engage with its Quadripartite partners (WHO, FAO, and UNEP) to advance the One Health approach, especially in supporting countries implementing integrated systems that protect human, animal, and environmental health.

Prevention remains the most effective line of defense. Strengthening wildlife surveillance and health intelligence, veterinary laboratory capacity, risk communication, community engagement and cross-sectoral One Health coordination is essential to reducing the risk of disease emergence and zoonotic spillover.

Sustained investment in fully operational animal health systems, including prevention-focused interventions, is not only critical for animal health; it is a core component of global health security and pandemic prevention.

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About WOAH

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is the global authority on animal health. Founded in 1924, WOAH works with its 183 Members to improve animal health and welfare worldwide. Through the development of international standards, the collection and dissemination of animal health information, and the strengthening of animal health systems, WOAH helps prevent and control animal diseases, including zoonoses. By advancing animal health, WOAH contributes to improved human health, food security, sustainable livelihoods, and a safer, healthier and more sustainable world.

About EBO-SURSY and ZOOSURSY

With support from the European Union, WOAH implemented EBO-SURSY to strengthen surveillance and diagnostic capacities for viral hemorrhagic fevers and other zoonotic diseases in Africa. Building on this work, WOAH and its partners are continuing this important collaboration through the ZOOSURSY project in 17 African countries, with scientific support from an international consortium comprising CIRAD, Institut Pasteur, IRD, Helmholtz Institute, and the University of Helsinki.

Through these initiatives, WOAH and its partners are supporting surveillance, as well as strengthening diagnostic capacity and expertise, contributing to stronger outbreak preparedness and response.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) emphasises that lead is a potent and persistent neurotoxin that presents significant, avoidable risks to the health of wildlife, humans, and the environment. Because there is no known safe level of lead exposure, the continued use of lead ammunition in hunting is a major concern for biodiversity and public health.

The risks to wildlife and human health

Extensive scientific evidence demonstrates that spent lead ammunition is a primary cause of wildlife mortality. Waterbirds and terrestrial birds frequently suffer from acute or chronic primary poisoning after ingesting spent lead pellets mistaken for grit or food. Furthermore, secondary poisoning occurs in predatory and scavenging mammals and birds, such as eagles and vultures, that consume lead fragments from the carcasses of hunted animals.

Lead ammunition also poses a public health risk. Lead shot and high-velocity bullets often fragment into microscopic particles upon impact, which can contaminate game meat intended for human consumption. This exposure is particularly hazardous for the neurodevelopment of children and the health of pregnant women.

One Health Solution

Safe, effective, and ballistically comparable non-toxic alternatives, such as steel, copper, bismuth, and tungsten, are already widely available and increasingly price competitive. The transition to these materials is a proven solution that allows hunting to continue while stopping the accumulation of a toxic element in soils, wetlands, and the wider landscape. Avoiding lead exposures and contamination of the environment is a core component of the One Health approach, essential for securing the health of animals, people, and ecosystems.

WOAH encourages and supports the following initiatives by its Members and international partners:

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is monitoring reports of hantavirus cases in collaboration with WHO and other partners to support a coordinated and evidence-based response, and commends WHO for its active efforts in leading the public health response to this incident. 

Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it originates in animals — primarily rodents — before crossing into human populations. Effective rodent management grounded in integrated ecological methods remains the primary measure to reduce the risk of human infection, alongside public health awareness and risk communication.

The current situation serves as an important reminder of the value of sustained surveillance and early detection, particularly at the animal–human–environment interface. Strengthening our ability to detect and monitor diseases in animal populations is a fundamental component of prevention.

As highlighted in the 2026 State of the World’s Animal Health report to be published on 13 May 2026, around 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in animals. Systems that support early detection and information sharing across sectors remain among the most effective tools to mitigate risks to human, animal, and environmental health. While speculation and fear can be driven by zoonotic risks, WOAH underlines the importance of clear science and evidence as a guiding principle when releasing and consuming information. 

While this situation requires continued vigilance and international collaboration, current assessments by WHO indicate that the risk to the general public remains low.

WOAH encourages its 183 Members to continue strengthening these efforts and to invest in integrated, One Health approach that strengthen collaboration across sectors, at the animal–human-environment interface to support early detection and enable coordinated action to address zoonotic disease risks. 

Because animal health is our health. It is everyone’s health.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to pose a serious and evolving threat to animal health, food security, livelihoods, and international trade. FMD (serotype SAT 1) has spread beyond its historical African range, causing outbreaks in countries previously free, including those in Southern Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The dynamic nature of this epidemiological situation underscores the need for sustained global vigilance and adapted actions.

Transparent, timely and accurate reporting of FMD outbreaks is essential to safeguarding global animal health. Early notification through WOAH systems enables rapid risk assessment and coordinated responses, strengthens trust among trading partners, and allows timely mobilisation of technical support. Equally important are strong early warning and surveillance systems, continuous risk monitoring, and science-based, risk-based approaches that anticipate emerging threats before they escalate. 

WOAH reaffirms its commitment to supporting Members in strengthening preparedness, surveillance, and control, and to facilitating coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other partners through the GF-TADs. Maintaining vigilance and transparency is a shared responsibility—critical to reducing the impact of FMD and protecting animal health, livelihoods, and food security worldwide.

Call to action to WOAH Members  

WOAH reminds Members of their commitment and obligation to ensure timely and transparent notification of confirmed FMD cases through the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), including serotype and strain information where available. 

In light of the evolving epidemiological situation associated with FMD virus serotype SAT 1, WOAH recommends Members to: 

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reiterates with renewed sense of urgency that while transporting animals—by land, sea, or air—can be a key for global trade, food production, research, and others, it is critical to ensure  the rigorous implementation of welfare standards throughout their transport process to safeguard animal health and well-being.

Long-distance transport can represent  serious risks due to—missing or incomplete health certificates, unclear customs rules, commercial disagreements, and unexpected problems. These issues must be carefully planned for and managed from the start to protect animal welfare.

Animal welfare during transport is essential. It keeps animals healthy and safe. Everyone involved—animal owners, operators, transporters, government agencies, and Veterinary Services—share this responsibility. WOAH is updating its standards to keep up with today’s complex transport challenges.

To make sure animals are well cared for at every step—starting with certification—these points are important:

Recent events highlight the scale and persistence of this threat. The European Food Safety Authority reported exceptionally high HPAI activity in wild birds during Europe’s 2025 autumn migration, with detections quadrupling those reported in 2024 and representing the highest levels observed since 2016. Among the affected species were common cranes (Grus grus), with more than 20,000 deaths recorded in Germany alone. In North America, the virus remains widespread in wild birds and is increasingly detected in a wide range of mammalian species. In the subantarctic islands of South Georgia, new infections are being reported in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), compounding losses of nearly 50% of breeding females since 2023. Similarly, in the neighbouring Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), the world’s two largest colonies of black-browed albatrosses (Thalassarche melanophris) experienced recurrent HPAI outbreaks and a marked decline in the number of breeding birds in 2024 and again in 2025. 

These mortality events have far-reaching ecological consequences. Population declines, reproductive failure, and disrupted species interactions can undermine ecosystem stability and species conservation, with potential generational impacts. Continued spillover into mammals also elevates One Health concerns, with potential implications for companion animals, livestock production and human health. 

Reducing further impacts and supporting recovery requires expanded and coordinated wildlife surveillance, rapid genomic characterization of viruses, improved data sharing, integration of broader conservation actions, and addressing other conservation threats such as habitat loss, overfishing, invasive species, pollution, and climate change. 

Innovative approaches such as Nature-based solutions that strengthen ecological resilience and maintain the natural barriers that limit pathogen spillover should be actively explored. Examples of these solutions include supporting natural scavenger populations to enhance biological removal of infected carcasses, restoring and protecting wetlands and coastal habitats to reduce crowding of migratory birds, maintaining heterogeneous freshwater–coastal landscapes that disperse foraging and roosting densities, and minimizing artificial congregation points that can serve as viral hot spots. 

HPAI has become a global conservation and One Health challenge, demanding urgent and sustained cross-sector collaboration to limit ongoing ecological damage. This scale of biodiversity loss will result in profound and unpredictable ecological disruption, including loss of ecosystem services and the breakdown of food-web dynamics. 

Veterinary authorities and wildlife health professionals are instrumental in establishing strategies and coordinating control plans for HPAI that emphasise biosecurity and biosurveillance involving both wild and domestic animals and timely sharing of up to date information on HPAI events.  

The ongoing threat of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) demands urgent global attention as it transcends its avian origins to affect domestic and wild mammals with increasing frequency. Notably, its ongoing circulation in dairy cattle in the United States of America (USA) is raising concerns within the international community. 

While the virus primarily affects domestic and wild birds, it is increasingly being reported in both terrestrial and aquatic mammals. As of September 2025, around 40 species of mammals have been infected with HPAI. These cases further highlight the virus’s ability to cross species barriers and pose a threat to wildlife, domestic animals, and public health.  

The ongoing detections of HPAI in dairy cattle in the USA, spark significant international concern. Infected cattle are either asymptomatic or with mild illness showing non-specific clinical signs such as decreased milk production, thicker-colostrum‐like milk, reduced appetite, lethargy, fever and dehydration. The continued detection of H5N1 in cattle increases the risk of H5N1 viruses becoming better adapted to mammals, potentially spilling over to other livestock, humans, and regions.  

Investigations so far have identified raw milk from infected cows as a high-risk material. There is evidence of horizontal virus transmission from infected lactating cows to other animals including cows, cats and poultry.  Thus, only milk produced by non-infected cows and that has been pasteurised or has followed a similar virus inactivation process should be commercialised.  

No specific adaptation of the virus to either humans or mammals has been identified. Several studies are being carried out to further explore the pathogenesis and transmission routes of these viruses, including between cattle and from cattle to other animals.  

In collaboration with its Reference Centres, FAO and WHO,  our networks of experts and Members, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is closely monitoring
the situation to assess the risks to animals. The risk to humans is currently considered low for the general public and is considered low to moderate, for those exposed to infected birds, animals or contaminated environment. Timely and transparent notification is crucial to maintain a good understanding of the disease situation and prevent any type of misinformation or disinformation. 

In light of the impact on animal and public health, the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases considered at its February 2025 meeting that ‘infection of bovines (Bos taurus) with influenza A viruses high pathogenicity’ meets the Terrestrial Code glossary definition for ‘emerging disease’. Accordingly, Members are required to notify the occurrence of HPAI in cattle to the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) in accordance with the WOAH Terrestrial Code Article 1.1.4.

WOAH also reminds its 183 Members that, based on the information currently available, restrictions to the international trade of healthy cattle and their products are only recommended if justified by an import risk analysis conducted according to the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapter 2.1.  

Finally, WOAH invites Members to consult OFFLU Guidelines for High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus Risk Mitigation in Cattle. These guidelines  provide practical, evidence-based measures to support Members in their efforts to  mitigate the risk of HPAI virus spread in cattle. It outlines key transmission pathways and proposes proportionate intervention strategies based on the latest scientific evidence.

WOAH calls on its Members to: 

• Increase avian influenza surveillance in domestic and wild birds.  
• Enhance surveillance for early detection in cattle population in countries where HPAI is known to be circulating.  
• Include HPAI as a differential diagnosis in non-avian species, including cattle and other livestock populations, with high risk of exposure to HPAI viruses, in particular:  
  • Animals showing clinical signs compatible with avian influenza; 
  • Sick or dead domestic animals near HPAI affected premises;  and 
  • Suspected cases, including apparently healthy animals, that have been exposed to or epidemiologically linked to suspected or confirmed HPAI in birds or cattle (i.e. situated in HPAI high-risk areas or in areas where avian influenza has been confirmed). 
• Notify cases of HPAI in all animal species, including cattle or other unusual hosts, to WOAH through its World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS). Genetic sequences of avian influenza viruses should be shared in publicly available databases. 
• Consider OFFLU ‘Guidelines for High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus Risk Mitigation in Cattle’ .
• Implement preventive and early response measures to break the HPAI transmission cycle among animals. These include applying movement restrictions of infected livestock holdings until infection has stopped and strict biosecurity measures in all holdings, in particular in milking parlours.
• Employ good production and hygiene practices when handling animal products. Raw milk or raw milk products from HPAI infected or exposed cows should not be used for animal feed or for human consumption.  
• Protect humans in close contact with or handling sick cattle or other sick livestock and their products. Exposed humans should always take precautionary measures to avoid getting infected and minimise the risk to mechanically carrying the virus to livestock or companion animals. This should include wearing personal protective equipment, avoiding visiting other livestock premises after the exposure and implementing standard food safety measures when handling animal products from exposed livestock.
• Avoid implementing unjustified trade restrictions. Import risk management measures should be scientifically justified and in line with the WOAH International Standards.

Technical guidelines for the adaptation of diagnostic tests for Influenza A in animals including cattle and other species as well as different types of samples such as milk and nasal swabs are available in the OFFLU website and will be regularly updated.  

WOAH is fully committed to supporting its Members to mitigate the risks associated with avian influenza. We will continue to engage with our networks of experts, OFFLU, as well as public and private partners, notably through the One Health Quadripartite and the Global Framework for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) to provide technical updates as more information becomes available.  

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