The possibility that the highly pathogenic form of avian influenza—as yet a disease mostly affecting chickens, ducks, and other poultry—might create a lethal human pandemic has become the year’s hottest international health issue. Less well known is that the poultry disease itself, and the measures used to prevent or control it, are major concerns in developing countries. The threat of avian influenza looms large over hundreds of millions of small farmers and marketers who make their livelihoods out of poultry.
We need to control highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the developing world to reduce both the possibility of a potential global human pandemic and the socio-economic damage bird flu is already causing the world’s poorest people. Developing countries still have largely rural populations practising mixed crop-and-livestock farming. In many of these countries, poultry roam freely, many birds are marketed live, and veterinary services, public institutions and infrastructure need strengthening. Given this context, bird flu may become endemic in some regions, offering ideal conditions for the feared mutation to a deadly strain transmissible between humans. We must urgently address this challenge while ensuring that the livelihoods of developing country populations, especially the poor, are not compromised. It profits all of us to consider the health and policy implications of this and to employ the best of science to support these countries in their work to control this disease.
The most recent efforts in fighting bird flu have been front-line emergency actions. It is an opportune time for the research community to step back and consider lessons learned: what worked, what didn’t, and why? How can we translate these lessons into better control efforts and policy actions in the future? What are the longer-term research needs and how can the international research community help? Many aid agencies are eager to fund research to help developing countries battle bird flu but need guidance as to the research areas that should take first priority.
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), two of 15 centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), are facilitating an international consultation to help address this need. We see this consultation as the beginning of a bigger process that will help investors and decision-makers make better-informed decisions.
The Research Community’s Response to Avian Influenza with Special Reference to the Needs of Developing Countries, held in Nairobi 14-16 June 2006, brought together experts from a range of institutions involved in fighting avian influenza. The information compiled here is preliminary. We are sharing it in view of the fast developments in this field of research. We are confidant that the participants of this consultation and the wider e-mail consultation that follows it will help inform collective research and policy actions needed to ensure that the global fight against bird flu is equitable as well as effective. In this way, the research community can help protect the livelihoods of the world’s poor as well as lives worldwide.
Joachim von Braun
Director General
International Food Policy Research Institute
Carlos Seré
Director General
International Livestock Research Institute
The report is available to download in PDF format.
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