Avian Influenza Surveillance

While the timeline of Avian Flu reaches back to 1878, in recent years there have been increased rates of its emergence in birds, both wild and domestic. One of the greatest challenges faced by those studying the disease is the inability to accurately track its spread in migratory birds. This team began by examining the definition of a virus, and the different ways in which the Avian Flu is transferred and changes strains, most importantly how it can be transmitted to a person. They then analyzed the different dimensions that its spreading would cause, including economic, political, ecological, and social. The proposed legislation, the Global Network for Avian Influenza Surveillance, is attempting to more accurately predict the uncertainties surrounding this disease, through training and on-site research, international monitoring and testing, and creating an information database. This group examined the different ways of measuring the success of this proposed legislation, as well as some of the scientific controversies surrounding it.

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