Monitoring migratory shorebirds for N5H1 Avian Influenza
The World Health Organisation considers it a priority that N5H1 Avian Flu be monitored worldwide due to fears that this virus, which can be transmitted from birds to humans, may mutate to a form where it becomes transmissible from human to human. It has been proposed that there might be a possibility that migratory birds, travelling between Asia and Australia may be able to carry the virus to Australia and infect native endemic populations of birds and, ultimately humans.
In the Sydney region, migratory waders frequently gather in areas where they may consort with native duck species. These ducks may, in turn consort with domestic or farm chickens. It is considered that there is a likelihood that ducks may become a vector species for the transmission of N5H1 Avian Flu between populations of shorebirds and domestic or farm chickens should migrating shorebirds carry the disease to Australia.
The CSIRO has established a monitoring program within Australia through the Australian Quarantine Inspection Services (AQIS) and other suitably qualified parties or individuals. Dr Phil Hansboro, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Newcastle, is one individual contracted to monitor the possible occurrence of N5H1 Avian Flu in New South Wales.
In January 2006, I was subcontracted to participate in this survey. My role was to construct walk-in wader traps and then place them on mud flats to trap waders as they foraged. I would then sample and release the birds according to the methods described below. I sampled in locations such as Homebush Bay, Botany Wetlands, Centennial Park, Pitt-town Lagoons, Narrabeen Lakes and Long Reef. Sampled birds numbered over 900.
The study involved trapping migratory shorebirds which travel between Asia and Australia and swabbing them for faecal samples which might contain evidence of infection of the N5H1 virus within the bird population. Their samples would also be tested for the Campilobacta virus. After swabbing, the birds were marked by snipping a corner off their rectrices prior to release. The samples were appropriately marked/recorded and stored on ice. At the end of each day these were transferred to a deep freeze located in the Australian Museum, where they would later be collected for examination by Dr Hansboro and his team.
The period of my contract ran from January 5, 2006 to March 17, 2006.