AVA joins global authorities on animal health to discuss high pathogenicity avian influenza

_{Image: the Australian delegation at the 90th World Health Organisation for Animals General Congress meeting}

This week, AVA President Dr Bronwyn Orr joined Australian delegates from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, jurisdictional governments and industry organisations including the CSIRO, Australian Chicken Meat Federation, Wool Producers Australia and Wildlife Health Australia, to attend the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) 90th General Session in Paris. 

The theme of this year’s session – WOAH’s first face-to-face meeting since 2019 – was high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI). With successful eradication of Australia’s largest outbreak of HPAI in 2020, Australia is currently free of this disease. This meeting afforded Australian delegates a chance to learn from overseas experiences and bolster Australia’s disease preparedness. “We must not become complacent, as an outbreak would result in significant wild and domestic bird mortality,” says Dr Orr. 

WOAH is the global authority on animal health, with a World Assembly of 182 delegates that meet at least once per year. Its aim is to coordinate responses to animal health emergencies, lead the prevention of zoonotic diseases and promote animal health and welfare. Its standards underpin trade and market access agreements.  

The AVA’s attendance at the meeting was an important way to bring the voice of the veterinary profession into this global discussion, joining other Australian delegates to advocate for effective, evidence-based standards which account for animal health and welfare and allow safe international trade. 

“It's been a privilege to attend the World Organisation for Animal Health General Congress in Paris this week, as part of the Australian delegation,” said Dr Orr, who as usual was accompanied by the youngest delegate in the room.