Latin American and Caribbean laboratories strengthen zoonotic influenza detection through joint PAHO-IAEA workshop – PAHO/WHO

Rio de Janeiro, August 22, 2025 (PanAfftosa/SPV-PAHO/WHO)-Laboratory technicians from 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries completed a five-day workshop in Rio de Janeiro to improve the detection of influenza Aviar A (H5N1), a virus responsible for more than 4,700 sprouts in Birds and Mammals and more than 70 cases of the United States.

Organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) through its Pan -American Center for Veterinary Public Health (PanAftose), in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (OIEA) and its joint center of FAO/OIEA of the Nuclear Center for Nuclear Samples in Food and Agriculture, the participants trained in workshops in advanced diagnostic techniques, including the tests of influence in milk.

This experience is critical given the zoonotic influenza outbreaks detected in dairy cattle in the United States since 2024. Participants reviewed international standards to prove diagnostic tests and were trained in biosafety protocols for safe handling, sending and sampling processing.

«Strengthening the laboratories of our region is vital for early detection and the control of avian influenza, safeguarding both animal and human health,» said Ottorino Cosivi, director of PanAftose. «This training equips countries to more effectively address an evolutionary threat,» he added.

Technicians from Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela Techniques Molecular such as PCR (Polymera Pcr (Polymerase) and genetic sequencing tools to analyze its variants.

«Zoonotic disease control requires a multisectoral approach. This collaboration exemplifies the importance of integrating animal and public health sectors into veterinary training to produce professionals capable of addressing health challenges that affect both animals and humans,» said Carla Bravo de Rueda, technical technical officer of Animal Health of AIA.

The workshop was supported by the Federal Laboratory of Agricultural Defense in Campinas (Brazil), a reference laboratory of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) for Aviar influenza and the Regional Office of the United Nations Organization for the United Nations Agriculture (FAO) for Latin America and the Caribbean. It was also supported by the Protect Project, financed by the Pandemic Fund, and the RLA 5085 regional project of the OIEA.

A (H5N1) is a transmissible zoonotic virus of animals to humans, which underlines the need for coordinated surveillance in animal and human health under the unique health approach, which recognizes the interconnection of human, animal and environmental health.

Since 2020, the A (H5N1) virus has spread by Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, which affect wild and domestic birds, mammals and more than 1,000 dairy herds in 17 states of the United States from May 2025. Although there is no evidence of human transmission to humans, Paho and that exhort the surveillance sustained to monitor the changes in the virus.

The PAHO will continue to provide technical support to the countries of the region to reinforce surveillance, response and preparation systems for emerging diseases, with the aim of protecting public health, food security and animal welfare.

Note for editors:

The workshop instructors included technical personnel from Paho, Panftose, the OIEA and the Center for Nuclear Techniques of FAO/OIEA Joint in Food and Agriculture. In addition, the collaboration was provided by experts from regional and global institutions, which include:

• United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• National Animal Health Laboratory Red (Nahln) of the United States
• Federal Laboratory of Agricultural Defense in São Paulo (LFDA-SP), WOAH reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease
• Agricultural Defense Laboratory in Minas Gerais (LFDA-MG)
• Embapa Gado de Leite, an Embrapa unit, the Public Institution of Brazil focused on the investigation of dairy production
• WHO Center for the Ecology of Influenza in Animals at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Duke-Nus Medicine School Center for shooting (Singapore) preparation