Asymptomatic infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in wild birds: how sound is the evidence?
Date
2006-11-17
Authors
Feare, Chris J
Yasué, Maï
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Widespread deaths of wild birds from which highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
H5N1 has been isolated suggest that the virus continues to be lethal to them. However,
asymptomatic carriage by some wild birds could allow birds to spread the virus on migration.
Confirmation of such carriage is therefore important for the design of mitigation measures for the
disease in poultry.
Discussion: Two recent papers have reported the isolation of H5N1 from a small number of
water birds in China and Russia and have concluded that wild birds can spread the viruses over long
distances on migration. However, both papers contain weaknesses in the provision of
ornithological and associated data that compromise conclusions that can be reached about the role
of wild birds in the spread of H5N1. We describe the weaknesses of these studies and highlight the
need for improved methodological description and methodology, where appropriate, and further
research.
Summary: A rigorous assessment of whether wild birds can carry H5N1 asymptomatically is
critical to evaluating the risks of spread by migratory birds on long-distance migration.
Description
BioMed Central
Keywords
Citation
Feare and Yasué. Asymptomatic infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in wild birds. Virology Journal 2006, 3 :96