The rapid spread of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu among wildlife and some humans has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) to jointly call for One Health response on Tuesday to address global risks.
One Health refers to a holistic and collaborative approach to health crises, spanning sectors and disciplines.
In an update on the global situation, Gregorio Torres, head of the Science Department of the WOAH said the disease has caused the deaths of more than 300 million birds worldwide since October 2021.
More than 500 bird species and over 70 mammalian species have been infected with the virus, according to Dr. Madhur Dhingra, a senior animal health officer of the FAO.
Dhingra warned that hundreds of millions of people's livelihoods have been affected by the virus.
In 2024, 76 people have been reportedly infected with the virus, according to Maria Van Kerkhove, director of the Epidemic and Pandemic Threat Management of WHO.
The three UN agencies called for a multi-sector collaborative response and a close watch on human-animal interaction, stressing that the protection of animal species and food systems is as important as preventing human infections.
UN agencies call for multidisciplinary approach to tackling H5N1 avian influenza
