The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an alert following the increasing detection of avian influenza outbreaks in birds in 10 countries in the region of the Americas.

PAHO, in a statement this week, said countries should play their part to control the infection in birds as the key measure to reduce the risk to humans.

The organisation also recommended that countries strengthen surveillance for seasonal and zoonotic influenza in animal and human populations.

PAHO also provided guidelines on early laboratory diagnosis in human and animal samples.

PAHO says countries should utilise these guidelines as prevention and control measures in coordination between the health, agriculture and environmental sectors.

The influenza A(H5N1) virus was first identified in domestic and wild birds in December 2014 in North America.

Countries such as Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the United States and Venezuela have detected outbreaks of this virus in domestic, poultry and wild birds since January 2023.

However, infections of this virus in humans have been much less frequent. But whenever avian influenza viruses circulate among birds there is a risk of sporadic human cases.

Two human infections have been confirmed in the region: the first in April 2022 in the United States and the second on January 9, 2023 in Ecuador.

People at risk are those exposed to infected birds (domestic, wild or captive), such as poultry keepers and personnel involved in outbreak control.

Health care workers are also at risk of infection if adequate prevention and control measures are not observed. PAHO recommends the use of personal protective equipment and other hygiene and sanitation measures.