With support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Intersectoral Risk Assessment (IRA) workshops for zoonotic avian influenza (ZAI) were conducted in Bolivia from 2-4 April 2024 and Guatemala from 23-24 April 2024. Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Agriculture were present, as well as participants from other agencies and private producers.

During the IRA workshops, participants mapped critical points for ZAI transmission across the complex wild bird-poultry-human interface, emphasizing the occupational risks for human exposure. They also defined the roles of each sector and communication flows between them, to facilitate multisectoral collaboration.

The workshop outputs will be used to inform strategies on preparedness, surveillance, prevention, and response, with integrated actions within the One Health framework.

IRA was identified as a priority during the first launch meeting of the Intersectoral Commission for the Control of Zoonotic Influenza in the Americas.

Sandra González, Guatemala, 2024