‘Tackling Avian Flu Together’: WEO hosts event alongside World Health Assembly

27 May 2025

The World Egg Organisation (WEO) held a high-level event on 22 May in Geneva, uniting leading voices from animal health, public health, and the global egg industry to address the ongoing challenges posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Taking place on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO), the event highlighted the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration and science-led strategies, including vaccination in laying hens.

The session, titled ‘Tackling Avian Flu Together’, was attended by representatives from WHO member states and international organisations.

WEO Chair, Juan Felipe Montoya Muñoz, welcomed guests and emphasised the importance of a united approach: “WEO represents egg farmers, big and small, around the world – many are on the frontline dealing with avian influenza. We are committed to a ‘One Health’ approach and strengthening collaboration with WHO and the other quadripartite organisations.”

The event was expertly moderated by Dr Richard Webby, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, and featured three insightful presentations:

• Dr Wenqing Zhang, Head of the Global Influenza Programme, WHO, Switzerland
• Professor Ian Brown OBE, Chair of OFFLU (WOAH/FAO network of expertise on animal influenza) Steering Committee, UK
• Ben Dellaert, Chair of the AI Global Expert Group, WEO, Netherlands

WEO Director General, Julian Madeley, also represented the industry at a side event on Sunday 18 May, hosted by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), titled ‘The new face of pandemic preparedness’.

Mr Madeley shared the egg sector’s experiences and perspectives on the future of HPAI control, reinforcing the critical need for HPAI vaccination in laying hens as an additional tool for egg farmers.

Commenting on the events, Mr Madeley said: “Thank you to WHO for all the leadership and support you provide to us as we work towards the same goals. The message is clear: we must act together to safeguard animal health, human health, and global food security under the ‘One Health’ principal.”

About the World Health Assembly (WHA)

Every year, delegates from World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) 194 member states gather in Geneva for the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the WHO.