FAO’s view of the global needs for controlling the current avian flu emergency, addressing the livestock component of the complex issue, which is closely linked to human health and welfare concerns. FAO presents its estimate of the costs it will incur in fulfilling its role in the emergency.

The manual is designed to help national animal health authorities and other interested parties prepare for, detect and respond to avian flu. It offers sections on the virus that causes avian flu, clinical signs of the disease, the risk of introduction and dissemination of avian flu, preparing for an outbreak, and prevention and biosecurity, in addition to practical annexes.

A long-term vision, goal, approach and implementation plans to control avian flu with a phased control programme, which will be expanded to become a global strategy. Among others, the strategy calls for country-level capacity building for the control of infectious diseases, and strategic research to investigate the epidemiology of avian flu, evaluate the efficacy of vaccines and promote the development of rapid diagnostic tests.

Principles and requirements for surveillance and diagnosis of avian flu that can be applied by countries and regional networks. Four annexes deal with surveillance methods, laboratory procedures and networks, animal health information systems and networks, and research priorities.