News from Scientists at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Monday, February 5, 2007
USGS – Chinese Academy of Sciences Joint Planning Meeting During the week of January 7-14, Dr. Judd Howell and Diann Prosser of PWRC and Dr.’s Steve Schwarzbach and John Takekawa of WERC traveled to Beijing, China to establish a working relationship and develop details of a joint research project with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The focus of the research is to examine the relationship between domestic and migratory waterfowl and the risk of spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HP H5N1) between these groups of birds. First, satellite transmitters will be deployed on ducks at Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve, which is the largest wintering area of waterfowl in southeastern China. This is the largest freshwater lake in China where poultry may intermix with wild birds allowing for the exchange of avian influenza viruses. Second, satellite transmitters will be deployed on geese and ducks at Qinghai Lake, which has a large concentration of breeding waterfowl and is the site of the largest die-off of wild birds due to HP H5N1in China. By studying the ecological and epidemiological relationships where the disease currently exists they think they can gain a better understanding of how to frame a response when and if the disease disperses to North America. Contact Dr. Judd Howell , 301-497-5503 |
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