Abstract Title
Wild bird surveillance for avian influenza viruses – supporting poultry, people, and planet.
Abstract
Australia maintains a long-standing program of avian influenza surveillance in wild birds (National Avian Influenza Wild Bird surveillance program) and is a major part of the national monitoring program for these viruses. The program is coordinated by Wildlife Health Australia and overseen by a steering group with representation from federal and jurisdictional government biosecurity agencies, environmental agencies, industry partners, university research groups, laboratory facilities, and subject matter experts. Funding is provided by the Australian Government with substantial in-kind contribution from surveillance partners.
The program comprises both targeted (active) and general (passive) surveillance, addressing key objectives of i) virus detection and characterisation, ii) laboratory capacity and optimisation, iii) communication, and iv) support high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak investigations. Surveillance findings include identification and reporting of wide range of low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus subtypes. The program has also established a networking and communication framework that would be vital in the event of HPAI H5N1 2.3.4.4b arriving in Australia.
Key outcomes that have been achieved through this program include:
oImproved understanding of endemic LPAI circulating in wild birds in Australia and associated biosecurity risks
oDetection and monitoring of novel LPAI subtypes
oDevelopment of optimised testing protocols for endemic viruses
oEnhanced understanding of the epidemiology of avian influenza viruses to inform response to HPAI outbreak events in poultry.
This presentation will discuss the program in detail and describe contributions to avian influenza biosecurity in Australia.
The program comprises both targeted (active) and general (passive) surveillance, addressing key objectives of i) virus detection and characterisation, ii) laboratory capacity and optimisation, iii) communication, and iv) support high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak investigations. Surveillance findings include identification and reporting of wide range of low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus subtypes. The program has also established a networking and communication framework that would be vital in the event of HPAI H5N1 2.3.4.4b arriving in Australia.
Key outcomes that have been achieved through this program include:
oImproved understanding of endemic LPAI circulating in wild birds in Australia and associated biosecurity risks
oDetection and monitoring of novel LPAI subtypes
oDevelopment of optimised testing protocols for endemic viruses
oEnhanced understanding of the epidemiology of avian influenza viruses to inform response to HPAI outbreak events in poultry.
This presentation will discuss the program in detail and describe contributions to avian influenza biosecurity in Australia.
Co-Author(s)
Paul Eden, Chair National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Steering Group, Senior Project Officer, Wildlife Health Australia
Silvia Ban, Senior Project Officer, Wildlife Health Australia
Tiggy Grillo, Chief Operating Officer, Wildlife Health Australia
Andrew Breed, Principal Veterinary Epidemiologist, Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry
Abstract Category
Notable outbreaks, field and molecular epidemiology, and surveillance in wild birds