Health practitioners in protective suits conduct avian influenza surveillance in Cambodia. Supplied
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, is leading efforts to strengthen health security in Cambodia through its “One Health and Livestock Production (OHLP)” approach.
Supported by USAID, South Korea, the Fleming Fund and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the initiative tackles emerging health threats by addressing the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, according to a December 17 FAO press release.
The release explained that the approach focuses on disease prevention, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food safety and public awareness to combat zoonotic diseases like avian influenza. Recognising that children are disproportionately affected, FAO launched avian influenza school forums in 2013 to teach students practical safety measures. An assessment in 2018 highlighted the programme’s success in promoting safer practices among participants.
It stressed that approximately 75 per cent of human cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in Cambodia have occurred in children under 12 years old, making this demographic a priority.
“Our efforts to combat emerging infectious diseases, such as H5N1 avian influenza, builds on more than 30 years of US-Cambodian partnership to improve health outcomes in Cambodia,” said Acting USAID Cambodia mission director Christopher Kelly. “The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated that diseases know no borders, emphasising the importance of international collaboration.”
According to the release, FAO organised more than 100 school forums across 10 provinces in 2024, reaching approximately 36,000 people. These forums focus on preventative measures, including hygiene practices and reducing contact with infected birds, to limit virus transmission in high-risk areas.
Additionally, the organisation has been monitoring avian influenza risks through live bird market (LBM) surveillance since 2007. While LBMs play a central role in poultry marketing, they also pose significant risks for avian influenza transmission.
Surveillance efforts, managed by the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (NAHPRI) and the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC), now span 12 provinces. In 2024, FAO expanded disease monitoring to include pig slaughterhouses, further strengthening the country’s disease detection capacity.
USAID’s support has been particularly vital in high-priority provinces such as Battambang, a major livestock hub. Here, targeted disease prevention activities are being implemented under the Global Surveillance for Health and Productivity (GSHP) project to safeguard both animal and human health.
“Protecting our communities, especially our children, from avian influenza requires more than isolated efforts – it demands a comprehensive, “one health” approach,” said FAO representative in Cambodia Rebekah Bell.
“By engaging students and teachers through our school forums and monitoring high-risk areas like live bird markets, we address the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. With the support of partners like USAID, we are building a safer, healthier future for all, contributing to better production, nutrition, environment and life, while ensuring that no one is left behind,” she added.
Through these initiatives, FAO and its partners are advancing the Kingdom’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to zoonotic diseases, demonstrating the importance of a collaborative approach to health security, according to the release.
