OFFLU - Network of expertise on animal influenza. OIE/FAO

The animal health community aims at providing an early recognition and characterization of different types of influenza strains in the animal population. The goal is to better manage the known infections and to try and prevent mutations and the risks of those infections affecting the human population as well. At the same time these organizations promote global food security and animal welfare and health as well as other community benefits that are directly derived from the health of domestic animals and wildlife.

OFFLU or the network of expertise on animal influenza is one of these organizations which have the objective to promote information exchange between different organizations with the same goal. This information usually means exchanging scientific data and biological materials and carrying out an analysis of such data. The findings are meant to be shared with the wider scientific community but also with the different stakeholders. OFFLU also provide member countries with technical advice, training and veterinary expertise in order to assist the prevention, diagnosis and control of animal illness caused by influenza. The network collaborates with the World Health Organization on the animal influenza issues, and in particular to those concerning the animal-human interface. This may include assisting in the preparation of human vaccines that would combat infections caused by different influenza strains.

Given the need for more coordination and more preparation in the event of a potential outbreak of avian flu, the OFFLU makes sure that the scientific community is prepared to counteract such an outbreak. Its mission is to reduce the damage caused by these infections both in the animal and human populations. During the last avian flu outbreak there is an estimated number of hundreds of millions of birds that have been killed (by the virus or as a preventive measure) in order to deal with the outbreak. But these actions must be considered better in the future.