Pandemic Disease Research

In the past few years, avian influenza spread rapidly through Asia and Europe. Wildlife Trust scientists are studying the viral pathways to understand how future outbreaks can be prevented or contained.

Wildlife Trust researches highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza in waterfowl throughout Bangladesh and China. These sites have been shown to contain highly pathogenic avian influenza strains and are where human cases have been most recently observed.

Our analysis and predictions on the global spread of H5N1 avian influenza laid the groundwork to focus our attention on the latest H1N1 ("swine flu") influenza pandemic. Our goal for this research is to accurately forecast the risk of large-scale outbreaks.

In Mexico, with ongoing collaboration with Mexican and U.S. institutions, Wildlife Trust is working to diagnose and control disease in declining waterfowl populations during their winter migration. Our evidence suggests that diseases like avian influenza, equine encephalitis, and avian cholera are being reintroduced annually by migratory birds as they move north into the U.S. This project incorporates bird population management and protection with research and monitoring.

The goal of this project is to understand whether wild or domestic waterfowl are the primary reservoir for avian influenza so that poultry and other wildlife can be managed appropriately to thwart the disease.