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Research Project: Intervention Strategies to Prevent and Control Disease Outbreaks Caused by Emerging Strains of Avian Influenza Viruses

Location: Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research

Title: Spotlight on avian pathology: can we reduce the pandemic threat of H9N2 avian influenza to human and animal health?

Author
item SIMS, LES - Consultant
item TRIPODI, ASTRID - Consultant
item Swayne, David

Submitted to: Avian Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2020
Publication Date: 11/1/2020
Citation: Sims, L., Tripodi, A., Swayne, D.E. 2020. Spotlight on avian pathology: can we reduce the pandemic threat of H9N2 avian influenza to human and animal health?. Avian Pathology. 49(6):529-531. https://doi.org/10.1080/03079457.2020.1796139.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03079457.2020.1796139

Interpretive Summary: The H9N2 low pathogenicity avian Influenza virus (LPAIV) has caused severe economic damage to poultry throughout Asia, Africa, Middle East and parts of Europe, and is a human pandemic threat. The poultry industry needs to re-imagine the production and marketing system especially in live poultry markets and related value chains, to reduce transmission and improve control. Vaccines need to be better matched to provide poultry the best protection, but they cannot overcome the existing defects in biosecurity, including high farm densities. None of this will occur unless the threat posed by this virus to global health security is recognized.

Technical Abstract: COVID-19 should be a “call to arms” for the poultry industry to reassess containment of the H9N2 subtype of low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses. Strains of this virus are a human pandemic threat and a severe economic burden on poultry production. Over the past 20 years they have spread throughout Asia, Africa, Middle East and parts of Europe. As a global industry, a critical need is to re-imagine production and marketing chains, especially in low and middle income countries, where the structure of much of the industry facilitates virus transmission, especially, but not only, in improperly managed live poultry markets and related value chains. Better, appropriately matched vaccines are needed to support this process but cannot, alone, overcome the existing defects in biosecurity, including high farm densities. None of this will occur unless the threat posed by this virus to global health security is recognized.