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#           U.S. Geological Survey science strategy for highly pathogenic avian influenza in wildlife and the environment (2016–2020)      

      August 18, 2016    

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Introduction

Through the Science Strategy for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Wildlife and the Environment, the USGS will assess avian influenza (AI) dynamics in an ecological context to inform decisions made by resource managers and policymakers from the local to national level. Through collection of unbiased scientific information on the ecology of AI viruses and wildlife hosts in a changing world, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will enhance the development of AI forecasting tools and ensure this information is integrated with a quality decision process for managing HPAI.

The overall goal of this USGS Science Strategy for HPAI in Wildlife and the Environment goes beyond document­ing the occurrence and distribution of AI viruses in wild birds. The USGS aims to understand the epidemiological processes and environmental factors that influence HPAI distribution and describe the mechanisms of transmission between wild birds and poultry. USGS scientists developed a conceptual model describing the process linking HPAI dispersal in wild waterfowl to the outbreaks in poul­try. This strategy focuses on five long-term science goals, which include:
                            - Science Goal 1—Augment the National HPAI Surveillance Plan;
                            - Science Goal 2—Determine mechanisms of HPAI disease spread in wildlife and the environment;
                            - Science Goal 3—Characterize HPAI viruses circulating in wildlife;
                            - Science Goal 4—Understand implications of avian ecol­ogy on HPAI spread; and
                            - Science Goal 5—Develop HPAI forecasting and decision-making tools.

These goals will help define and describe the processes outlined in the conceptual model with the ultimate goal of facilitating biosecurity and minimizing transfer of diseases across the wildlife-poultry interface. The first four science goals are focused on scientific discovery and the fifth goal is application-based. Decision analyses in the fifth goal will guide prioritization of proposed actions in the first four goals.

## Citation Information

## Related Content

                  -              Connect           

#### John M. Pearce, Ph.D.

##### Associate Center Director for Ecosystems

Alaska Science Center

jpearce@usgs.gov

907-786-7094

#### Diann Prosser, Ph.D.

##### Research Biologist

Eastern Ecological Science Center

dprosser@usgs.gov

301-497-5914

#### C. LeAnn White

##### Center Director

National Wildlife Health Center

clwhite@usgs.gov

608-270-2491

####             A. Keith Miles (Former Employee)          

##### Center Director

Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

#### Jonathan Sleeman

##### Science Advisor

Midcontinent Region

jsleeman@usgs.gov

#### James Patrick Cronin, Ph.D.

##### Research Ecologist

Wetland and Aquatic Research Center 

jcronin@usgs.gov

####             Christine Densmore (Former Employee)          

##### Veterinary Medical Officer

Eastern Ecological Science Center

#### Thomas Doyle, Ph.D.

##### Scientist Emeritus

Wetland and Aquatic Research Center 

doylet@usgs.gov

337-266-8647

#### Robert Dusek

##### Wildlife Biologist/Epidemiologist

National Wildlife Health Center

rdusek@usgs.gov

608-270-2403

####             Paul Flint, Ph.D. (Former Employee)          

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

#### Jeffrey S Hall

##### Research Virologist

National Wildlife Health Center

jshall@usgs.gov

608-270-2458

#### Laura E Hubbard

##### Research Hydrologist

Upper Midwest Water Science Center

lhubbard@usgs.gov

608-821-3871

#### Randall J Hunt, Ph.D.

##### Chief Science Officer, Research Hydrologist

Upper Midwest Water Science Center

rjhunt@usgs.gov

608-821-3847

#### Hon Ip

##### Diagnostic Virologist

National Wildlife Health Center

hip@usgs.gov

608-270-2464

#### Mark Miller

##### Staff Scientist

Office of Science Quality and Integrity

mpmiller@usgs.gov

#### Andy Ramey, Ph.D.

##### Research Wildlife Geneticist

Alaska Science Center

aramey@usgs.gov

907-786-7174

#### Daniel P. Walsh, PhD

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Cooperative Research Units

dwalsh@usgs.gov

608-270-2481

## Related Content

#### John M. Pearce, Ph.D.

##### Associate Center Director for Ecosystems

Alaska Science Center

jpearce@usgs.gov

907-786-7094

#### Diann Prosser, Ph.D.

##### Research Biologist

Eastern Ecological Science Center

dprosser@usgs.gov

301-497-5914

#### C. LeAnn White

##### Center Director

National Wildlife Health Center

clwhite@usgs.gov

608-270-2491

####             A. Keith Miles (Former Employee)          

##### Center Director

Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

#### Jonathan Sleeman

##### Science Advisor

Midcontinent Region

jsleeman@usgs.gov

#### James Patrick Cronin, Ph.D.

##### Research Ecologist

Wetland and Aquatic Research Center 

jcronin@usgs.gov

####             Christine Densmore (Former Employee)          

##### Veterinary Medical Officer

Eastern Ecological Science Center

#### Thomas Doyle, Ph.D.

##### Scientist Emeritus

Wetland and Aquatic Research Center 

doylet@usgs.gov

337-266-8647

#### Robert Dusek

##### Wildlife Biologist/Epidemiologist

National Wildlife Health Center

rdusek@usgs.gov

608-270-2403

####             Paul Flint, Ph.D. (Former Employee)          

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

#### Jeffrey S Hall

##### Research Virologist

National Wildlife Health Center

jshall@usgs.gov

608-270-2458

#### Laura E Hubbard

##### Research Hydrologist

Upper Midwest Water Science Center

lhubbard@usgs.gov

608-821-3871

#### Randall J Hunt, Ph.D.

##### Chief Science Officer, Research Hydrologist

Upper Midwest Water Science Center

rjhunt@usgs.gov

608-821-3847

#### Hon Ip

##### Diagnostic Virologist

National Wildlife Health Center

hip@usgs.gov

608-270-2464

#### Mark Miller

##### Staff Scientist

Office of Science Quality and Integrity

mpmiller@usgs.gov

#### Andy Ramey, Ph.D.

##### Research Wildlife Geneticist

Alaska Science Center

aramey@usgs.gov

907-786-7174

#### Daniel P. Walsh, PhD

##### Research Wildlife Biologist

Cooperative Research Units

dwalsh@usgs.gov

608-270-2481

### Contact

####               Alaska Science Center          

4210 University DriveAnchorage, AK99508United States

(907) 786-7000

(907) 786-7020

####               National Wildlife Health Center          

6006 Schroeder RoadMadison, WI53711-6223United States

asknwhc@usgs.gov

608-270-2400

608-270-2415

####               Ecosystems Mission Area Headquarters          

12201 Sunrise Valley DrReston, VA20192United States

####               Science Analytics and Synthesis Program          

W 6th Ave Kipling StLakewood, CO80225United States

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