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HEDDS FAQs

1. How does one acquire a user name and password for the full HEDDS website?

2. I will be the person responsible for data input for our agency’s AI samples. Can you provide me with information as to how to gain access to HEDDS?

3. I see your map does not show any test results for avian influenza in my state. Is my state testing for avian influenza, or is it just that no birds have tested positive for the disease?

4. I am interested in your testing program for Avian Flu. You state in your test results reports that no High Path H5N1 has been found. I am wondering--have you found any presence of the Low Path H5N1 this year?

5. Once a bird tests positive for HPAI H5N1, exactly what information will be available about it on the public site?

6. Do you need any samples for testing?

7. Is there a system in place that would send automated messages of positive findings to subscribers?

8. I found a dead bird. Who should I contact, and can it be tested for bird flu?

9. Will my local or state agencies respond to all reports of sick or dead birds? How can I find up what kind of reporting and surveillance is being done?

1. How does one acquire a user name and password for the full HEDDS website?

Anyone can access the public view portion of HEDDS at: http://wildlifedisease.nbii.gov/ai but currently, only contributing agencies are granted access accounts into the entire system. These agencies are committed to quickly releasing information on any potential threats to human, wild, or domestic animal health, and will be available though the normal media channels. Updates are also available by subscribing to the HEDDS-news email list.

2. I will be the person responsible for data input for our agency’s AI samples. Can you provide me with information as to how to gain access to HEDDS?

This depends on which funding agency is associated with your sample collection efforts. For example, if you are working under an agreement with USDA Wildlife Services, then you should follow their instructions for data input. Each agency will have at least one Data Administrator which will direct the process for data getting into the system. Contacts for all agencies can be found at the pandemicflu.gov web site.

3. I see your map does not show any test results for avian influenza in my state. Is my state testing for avian influenza, or is it just that no birds have tested positive for the disease?

The data included in HEDDS may not yet show information for all samples that have been collected, as there is a testing and verification process that is followed before they are included. Bird sampling should be occurring in every state, but we may not have, as of yet, received any results from your state. Most sampling is being coordinated through the US Departments of Agriculture and Interior, with state, local and other organizations working with them. Contacts for all agencies can be found through the pandemicflu.gov web site.

4. I am interested in your testing program for Avian Flu. You state in your test results reports that no High Path H5N1 has been found. I am wondering--have you found any presence of the Low Path H5N1 this year?

Yes, there have been isolations of Low Path H5N1 from birds sampled in the US. The LPAI H5N1 Results Table provides more information on these results.

5. Once a bird tests positive for HPAI H5N1, what information will be available about it on the public site?

You will probably learn about positive test results first through a DOI/USDA press release, or the news, before seeing it on HEDDS. HEDDS is a multi-agency data integration and information resource. Test result summaries, including positive HPAI H5N1 findings, will be rapidly viewable on the public HEDDS website, but it is not a real-time system, and the results are only available at the state level. Updates are also available by subscribing to the HEDDS-news email list.

6. Do you need any samples for testing?

HEDDS only includes data that have been provided to us by contributing agencies that follow the procedures outlined in the US Interagency Strategic Plan. At this point, most sampling is being coordinated through the US Departments of Agriculture and Interior, with state, local and other organizations working with them. Contacts for all agencies can be found through the pandemicflu.gov web site.

7. Is there a system in place that would send automated messages of positive findings to subscribers?

Yes. You can subscribe to the HEDDS-News mailing list which will provide updates on results reported to HEDDS, and other wild bird surveillance news.

8. I found a dead bird. Who should I contact, and can it be tested for bird flu?

Your state wildlife resources agency would be the best place to report your finding. A list of state contacts can be found at: http://pandemicflu.gov/usamap.html. They will determine if it would be a good candidate for testing.

9. Will my local or state agencies respond to all reports of sick or dead birds? How can I find out what kind of reporting and surveillance is being done?

There really are no uniform standards or procedures by which governmental agencies at all levels respond to reports of sick or dead birds. It would not be feasible to detail all the possible situations in this response, which, by in large, vary by agency, location, species, and degree of concern, and these often change with time. The HEDDS site does provide links to documents about the surveillance strategies and activities in the left column. Additional contacts at state or local agencies can be found at pandemicflu.gov

This site developed and maintained by the NBII Wildlife Disease Information Node with support from HEDDS Contributors