The International Conference “Avian influenza: a global threat” was held in Rome on October 4th, 2017. The meeting was organized by the Italian Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie – National and OIE Reference Laboratory for Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza/FAO Reference Centre for Animal Influenza and Newcastle Disease, with the aim of bringing together experts, international health authorities and other relevant key players in the fight against avian influenza. The technical and scientific meeting was held in the morning, while the afternoon was devoted to a Round Table involving the CVOs of the G7 countries and members of the European Commission. In his introductory statement to the meeting, the Italian Chief veterinary Officer Silvio Borrello declared:
“The Symposium has been strongly supported by the G7 Italian Presidency to highlight the valuable contribution delivered by the veterinary service to the public health sector. The presence of international organizations such as the OIE, FAO and the WHO –respectively engaged in animal health, agricultural development and human health- and of representatives from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) once again highlights the wish to promote the One Health approach to jointly face the threat posed by avian influenza”
All the presentations focused on issues related to the diffusion of avian influenza worldwide, underlying how the incidence of the disease has greatly increased in the last decade, mostly as a consequence of the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. In particular, great emphasis was given to the role of wild birds in the transmission of the disease, once again confirming the need to widen the existing knowledge on wild bird species on a global and long-term perspective and to increase prevention and control strategies to monitor the spread of the virus, looking at the approach adopted by the USA to handle the 2015 outbreak in the country.
As for the nature of AI viruses, we know that so far the studies have confirmed their great ability to mutate and produce new variants. It is a priority for the scientific community to focus on the most effective way to monitor the virus in real time to understand its diversity and spread mechanisms. A marked improvement in the field of genomic research is strongly needed, jointly with the development of standardized protocols to gather the epidemiological data collected during AI outbreaks. A global approach is the only way to better understand the origin and early transmission dynamics of the disease.
The Conference was also a platform of discussion for matters other than animal health issues. Facing an AI outbreak also means to deal with the economic damages this may cause to the domestic and international markets, which also has inevitable negative social effects. HPAI epidemics represent a global threat for the poultry industry and have strongly jeopardized food security and smallholder livelihood conditions in rural areas of developing countries, with enormous direct losses in terms of animals and reduced commercial activities.
The OIE, FAO, WHO and EFSA representatives extensively discussed about the role that international bodies and institutions should have in the prevention and management of the disease, promoting joint surveillance projects and collaborative researches involving the key players of the food security, private industry, human and animal health sectors in the “One Health” perspective.
The importance of adopting a global approach to AI was once again highlighted, especially if we consider the strong viral interactions that may occur at the animal/human interface and the increase worldwide of the human infections with the H5, H7 and H9 subtypes.
The afternoon was devoted to the Round Table involving the CVOs of the G7 countries. The Chief veterinary officers offered their experience and expertise by providing their opinions on the economic impact that the disease has had and still has on the EU affected countries. The involvement of the audience and the debate that took shape in the course of the discussion has paved the way to a collaborative project, which intends to share and standardize the strategies and management plans to monitor the disease.
Presentations
- Ian Brown – A worldwide overview on the recent multiple incursions of avian influenza viruses in poultry | PDF
- Matthew Stone – OIE standards on avian influenza infections | PDF
- Kostas Stamoulis – Economic impact of avian influenza infections | PDF
- Ron Fouchier – Global perspective on avian influenza in wild birds | PDF
- Isabella Monne – Tracking the evolution of avian influenza viruses: are we maximizing the use of the information we have? | PDF
- Frank Verdonck – EFSA opinion on avian influenza | PDF
- David Swayne – Strategies for prevention and control of avian influenza in North America after the recent outbreaks of HPAI | PDF
- Malik Peiris – The emergence and threats posed by influenza A H7N9 viruses and how understanding the drivers of emergence and spread of these viruses can provide options for risk reduction | PDF
- Katelijn Vandemaele – Impact on avian influenza infections at human-animal interface: global perspective | PDF
