TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE Ad hoc COMMITTEE OF ANDEAN AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) FOCAL POINTS

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been reported in all the Member Countries (MP) of the Andean Community, and health emergency regulations have been issued to deal with the disease. HPAI is a transboundary viral disease, highly transmissible, which affects both wild and domestic birds, and until September 2022, it was considered an exotic disease in the Andean Subregion. HPAI generates high mortality and large direct and indirect losses in the poultry production and supply chain, and constitutes a barrier to international trade and a risk to public health, wildlife and food security. In view of the foregoing, and recognizing the seriousness of the situation, it is necessary to strengthen surveillance and control actions in PMs, either to prevent the entry of the disease into unaffected areas and/or control measures to prevent its spread to territories free of the disease and to promote its eradication.