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What has been the evolution, impact, and lessons learned from the management of avian influenza in Latin America and the Caribbean?
FAO presents a technical report that, for the first time, documents the regional impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Latin America and the Caribbean following its introduction in 2022.
Since 1997, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus strain H5N1 has caused significant outbreaks in domestic and wild birds across Asia, Europe, and Africa, with serious consequences for public health, biodiversity, and local economies.
In October 2022, this strain entered Latin America for the first time, marking a turning point for the region. The rapid spread of the virus and the emergence of new outbreaks in multiple countries revealed an unprecedented scenario, with cases not only in birds but also in marine mammals, domestic animals, and even in humans who had direct contact with infected animals.
Poultry production is a key pillar in Latin America and the Caribbean, both for food security and as a source of livelihood for millions of
small- and medium-scale producers. The expansion of HPAI has posed risks not only to the regional economy but also to the availability of animal-source protein and the biodiversity of ecosystems. Against this backdrop, reinforcing regional cooperation and strengthening technical capacities to prevent and control the virus have become urgent priorities.
The report Emergency and response to highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean: Regional technical report for the period October 2022 to September 2024, published by FAO, documents the health emergency triggered by the emergence and spread of HPAI H5N1 in countries across Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
Detection and spread of the virus in Latin America and the Caribbean
Low pathogenicity:
The first records of avian influenza virus in South America date back to 2001, when a low pathogenicity strain was detected in wild waterfowl in Bolivia. In Colombia, the virus was first identified in broiler chickens in 2005. Between 2009 and 2012, Peru reported seven different subtypes, five of which had never been recorded elsewhere in Latin America.
In Central America, the first isolations of low pathogenicity virus in domestic poultry were reported in Guatemala and El Salvador in 2000 and 2001. In addition, several virus subtypes were identified in ducks in Guatemala between 2007 and 2013.
High pathogenicity:
One of the first major outbreaks of HPAI in South America occurred in Chile in 2002, caused by the H7N3 virus.
Since October 2022, Brazil, Chile, and Peru have reported the highest number of HPAI H5N1 cases in wild birds and animals in the Southern Cone. Among domestic birds, Argentina and Peru led in the number of outbreaks detected. In contrast, Central American and Caribbean countries reported fewer cases, which were sporadic and short-lived, both in wild and domestic birds.
These continental experiences confirmed the circulation of different virus lineages among wild birds in South America, suggesting a divergent evolution of these viruses in the hemisphere.
How to respond to an avian influenza emergency?
In response to the regional health challenge, in 2023, FAO approved a Technical Cooperation Programme and activated the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities to support HPAI response efforts in 11 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. In parallel, national projects with similar objectives were implemented in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
These programmes aimed to enhance countries’ capacity to manage and respond to the emergency by strengthening veterinary services, providing essential supplies, and supporting resource mobilization.
To achieve this, FAO supported actions focused on early detection, sanitary culling of animals, strengthening biosecurity, zonification, and provided technical advice on vaccination as a complementary tool to traditional control measures. Before the emergency, most countries in the region had not implemented vaccination against avian influenza—except for countries like the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. However, in 2023, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay decided to include vaccination in their outbreak control strategies, complementing it with surveillance and biosecurity measures.
FAO recommends establishing an interdisciplinary group under the One Health approach, bringing together multiple public and private
stakeholders to guide vaccination decisions. In addition, it is advised to define risk scenarios and make vaccination decisions during “peace times,” rather than in the midst of an outbreak, when risk perceptions can be altered.
The report highlights the importance of public–private collaboration in addressing the health crisis. In each country, poultry and egg producer associations (members of the Latin American Poultry Association) provided technical and operational support during the emergency. At the same time, specialized academic groups from various universities contributed to training activities, supported the design of sanitary strategies, and participated in applied research.
Lessons learned from the avian influenza crisis
The avian influenza crisis exposed the fact that some countries in the region lacked experience, appropriate protocols, and trained personnel to address a health emergency of this scale. This was reflected in the lack of harmonization or standardization of epidemiological records across the region, resulting in varying country responses, which could hinder future planning of prevention and control strategies.
Moreover, the impact on the general population was evident, as the high mortality of wild birds and mammals along coasts and wetlands caused alarm among residents and tourists, who reported these findings to authorities. In such situations, it is essential to collect samples, identify species, conduct epidemiological characterization, and manage health risks—remembering that sick or dead birds should not be handled, and any sightings must be reported immediately to the official veterinary services.
This health emergency illustrated the complex epidemiology of HPAI, characterized by its significant economic impact and threats to biodiversity and domestic animals. It also highlighted the need for greater preparedness to respond to large-scale and complex health emergencies—especially in critical areas such as the culling of caged laying hens, wildlife management, and control zone administration.
Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of public–private coordination, inter-institutional cooperation, and international collaboration. It recommends designing emergency vaccination plans, defining responsibilities in response to findings in wildlife, establishing protocols for exposed persons, and developing compensation mechanisms—especially for small-scale producers.
These experiences reaffirm the need for strong animal health systems, effective regional cooperation, and sustained strategies under the One Health approach as key pillars for addressing future zoonotic threats.
Read the publication here: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd4707es
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HEADER: Grenada – A government official inspects a chicken during a visit to a beneficiary of FAO’s poultry project. © FAO/Giuseppe Bizzarri
- Mexico – Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. A brown pelican flies over the mangroves of this biodiversity refuge on the Yucatán coast. © FAO/Luis Antonio Rojas
- Guatemala – Poultry and egg producer supplying public schools that receive state funding for school feeding. © Pep Bonet/NOOR for FAO
- Bolivia – Chickens being weighed in the shed at Maleriada farm. © FAO/Sue Price
- Nicaragua – A hen and her chicks rest on a rock. © FAO/Saul Palma
Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2026 – A major shift in how healthcare is delivered in the Turks and Caicos Islands is at the center of the Government’s latest budget, with a focus on reducing reliance on overseas treatment and strengthening services at home.
Presenting his contribution to the national debate, Kyle Knowles outlined a strategy aimed at building a more sustainable healthcare system
—one that allows more residents to access quality care within the country.
The health sector has been allocated $94.1 million, making it one of the largest areas of public spending in the $550.8 million Budget passed on April 23.
Central to the Minister’s approach is a restructuring of the Treatment Abroad Programme (TAP), which has grown significantly in recent years as more patients are sent overseas for specialized care.
The Government now aims to reverse that trend.
“We are reforming healthcare to ensure long-term sustainability,” Knowles indicated, pointing to efforts to strengthen local services and reduce the need for travel.
The strategy includes improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding services available within the islands and increasing efficiency through the digitization of medical records.
Digitization is expected to support better coordination of care, reduce delays and allow for more accurate tracking of patient needs—part of a
broader effort to modernize public services.
The Minister emphasized that the goal is not only cost control, but improved access.
“No family should have to leave home to get quality care,” he said, underscoring the Government’s intention to refocus healthcare delivery on local capacity.
The shift comes as rising healthcare costs continue to place pressure on public finances, with overseas treatment representing one of the most expensive components of the system.
By investing more heavily in domestic services, the Government is seeking to reduce that burden while improving outcomes for residents.
While the direction is clear, details on timelines and the pace of expansion for local services were not fully outlined in the presentation.
Still, the emphasis on sustainability, access and modernization signals a strategic pivot in how healthcare is expected to evolve in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2026 – Premier Charles Washington Misick has pushed back against criticism of the Government’s newly passed budget, defending both its direction and execution as deliberate and necessary for national development.
Wrapping up debate on the $550.8 million Budget, passed on April 23, the Premier dismissed concerns raised by the Opposition
about inefficiency, rising costs and gaps in delivery, insisting the Government’s approach is measured and focused on long-term growth.
“This budget is about delivering for our people,” Misick said, as he reinforced the administration’s commitment to infrastructure, healthcare expansion and broader economic development.
Opposition Leader Edwin Astwood had earlier challenged the Government’s performance, pointing to unfilled posts, delayed projects and what he described as weak execution despite increasing allocations.
In response, the Premier rejected the notion that the Government is failing to deliver, instead arguing that building national capacity takes time and sustained investment.
He maintained that staffing challenges are being addressed and that improvements across ministries are ongoing, even as demand for public services grows.
The Premier also defended the scale of spending, framing it as a necessary step to support development across the islands, rather than unchecked expansion.
“We are investing in the future of this country,” he said, pointing to continued funding for infrastructure, community development and
public services.
On the question of equitable growth, Misick reiterated his administration’s focus on balanced development, including ongoing investments in the Family Islands.
He argued that progress is being made, even if transformation is not occurring as rapidly as some would like.
Throughout his closing remarks, the Premier leaned on the country’s economic fundamentals—highlighting strong cash reserves, stable growth projections and international confidence in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ fiscal management.
While the rebuttal addressed criticism head-on, it did not significantly alter the structure of the budget or introduce major new measures in response to concerns raised during the debate.
Instead, the Government’s position remained consistent: the plan is in place, the investments are targeted, and delivery will continue.
The exchange underscores a clear divide—between an Opposition pressing for faster, more measurable results, and a Government maintaining that its strategy is already on course.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER
Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2026 – There was no mistaking the enthusiasm of the Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade, E. Jay Saunders, as he laid out his vision for a more digitally driven Turks and Caicos Islands—one where services are faster, systems are connected, and doing business is easier.
But within that forward-looking presentation, what remained notably absent were clear timelines and defined measures to ensure data
security and system reliability.
“We are moving toward a fully integrated digital government,” Saunders told the House, as he outlined a future where public services are delivered seamlessly through technology.
With responsibility for the country’s economic and digital transformation, Saunders pointed to several areas expected to be reshaped by the rollout of e-government systems, including revenue collection, business licensing, customs processing and access to public services—all designed to reduce delays, improve compliance and streamline transactions.
The vision is one of convenience and efficiency: fewer lines, faster approvals, and systems that communicate across departments rather than operate in silos.
Within the framework of the Government’s $550.8 million Budget, passed on April 23, the digital push is positioned as a key driver of modernization and improved service delivery.
However, for many users, the experience of government systems today remains inconsistent.
Periodic outages, payment disruptions and service downtime continue to affect daily transactions, raising practical concerns about how quickly the country can transition to a fully digital model.
Despite the scale of the ambition, the Minister’s presentation did not directly address how system reliability will be strengthened or how data will be protected as more services move online.
Those elements—uptime, security and resilience—are critical to public confidence, particularly as businesses and residents become increasingly dependent on digital platforms to access government services.
The direction is clear, and the potential impact is significant.
But as the country moves closer to greater digital dependence, the success of that transformation will ultimately rest not just on what is promised—but on whether the systems can be relied upon when they are needed most.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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