6. The impact of avian influenza: what have we learned in the past two years and what do we need going forward
Matt Wood (University of Gloucestershire, UK), Emma Philip (NatureScotland), Amandine Gamble (Cornell University, USA) Emma Cunningham (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Contact: e.cunningham@ed.ac.uk
Understanding how diseases circulate and persist in wildlife populations is critical to assessing their impact and potential to cross species boundaries to affect both animal and human health. This is exemplified by the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that has caused unprecedented mortality in seabirds at a global scale: In the past three years, the seabird community has observed a significant change in the disease dynamics of a subtype of concern (H5N1) with incursions being detected across a range of novel avian hosts and persistence beyond the usual seasonal occurrence of many influenza viruses. The rapid spread of infection has caused mass mortality, opened new routes of both local and global transmission, and altered the potential for rapid viral adaptation and spread. Two years ago, the 15th International Seabird Conference hosted an urgency workshop to bring together the seabird community to discuss key requirements needed to predict likely scenarios of disease progression and the tools to address this at scale in these novel hosts. This workshop will bring together the seabird community to discuss what we have learned two years on and what future requirements are needed. It is open to anyone with an interest in seabird populations (researchers, ringers, volunteers, site managers, nongovernment organisations and policymakers) whether working in research, conservation or government, and aims to facilitate collaboration across sectors that are key to an effective response to HPAI.
Potential product: Review paper and methodological advice
Duration: 13:30 – 17 h | Maximum number of participants: 50