Avian Influenza Surveillance Active
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) conducts surveillance in wild birds to facilitate early detection and situational awareness for high consequence pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses.
Investigating Avian Influenza in U.S. Wildlife
In addition to investigating wildlife mortality events since our founding in the 1970s, the NWHC conducts research to better understand processes and environmental factors that influence spread, distribution, and transmission of HPAI in wild birds and poultry. Surveillance activities conducted by NWHC, in support of national HPAI surveillance objectives, provide critical information regarding avian influenza strains currently circulating in the U.S. and enhance our understanding of disease impacts on wild birds. Wild bird surveillance also provides early warning for the agricultural sector and helps inform the need for increased biosecurity at poultry facilities.
The NWHC routinely tests samples from wild birds for avian influenza viruses. In December 2014, the NWHC detected HPAI viruses of Asian origin in wild waterfowl in the state of Washington (Ip et al. 2015). By the end of 2015, losses associated with this HPAI outbreak exceeded 50 million poultry, resulting in over $3 billion dollars in economic impacts.
Between 2016 and 2021, the NWHC tested over 3,400 wild-bird carcasses and over 12,400 swab samples from healthy wild birds for the presence of avian influenza viruses. While HPAI was not detected in any of these samples, over 2,600 low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses were identified and characterized, providing critical information to wildlife and agricultural officials regarding the spatial distribution and strains of avian influenza viruses circulating in our nation’s wildlife.
HPAI Surveillance Update 2021-22
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in North American wild birds for the first time since 2015. Initial detections occurred in Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) and the United States (South Carolina) in December 2021. Additional detections in the United States are reported online by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a map of confirmed detections in North America is available from the NWHC.
Interagency Partnerships
The NWHC serves on the U.S. Interagency Steering Committee for Surveillance for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds and conducts morbidity and mortality event investigations in support of the Interagency Strategic Plan for Early Detection and Monitoring for Avian Influenzas of Significance in Wild Birds. The NWHC also serves as an affiliate member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) and collaborates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory on diagnostic testing of samples collected from wild birds for avian influenza surveillance.
Additional Resources
- Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in North America, 2021/2022 (Map)
- Avian influenza (USDA)
- Information on Avian Influenza (CDC)
- Implementation Plan for Avian Influenza Surveillance in Waterfowl in the United States
- NWHC Wildlife Health Bulletins
- Status and Response to Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in North America – February 2022
- Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in an Exhibition Farm in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada - December 2021
- Winter 2021 Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses Circulating Globally in Wild Birds - December 2021
More Information on Avian Influenza
Avian influenza is a viral disease caused by various strains of avian influenza viruses that can be classified as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which refers to a specific virus’ capability to cause mortality in domestic poultry. It remains a high consequence global disease with the potential to threaten wildlife, agriculture, and human health. Check out the main Avian Influenza page to learn more.
Learn about other NWHC work on avian influenza.
Below are photos related to avian influenza surveillance.
Below are publications related to avian influenza surveillance.
Avian influenza at both ends of a migratory flyway: characterizing viral genomic diversity to optimize surveillance plans for North America
Analytical validation of a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for Pan-American lineage H7 subtype Avian influenza viruses
Prevalence of Influenza A viruses in wild migratory birds in Alaska: Patterns of variation in detection at a crossroads of intercontinental flyways
Influenza A virus infections in land birds, People's Republic of China
Avian influenza surveillance of wild birds
Characterization of low-pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza viruses from North America
Surveillance for Asian H5N1 avian influenza in the United States
Below are news stories related to avian influenza.
Below are FAQs related to avian influenza.
- Overview
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) conducts surveillance in wild birds to facilitate early detection and situational awareness for high consequence pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses.
Investigating Avian Influenza in U.S. Wildlife
In addition to investigating wildlife mortality events since our founding in the 1970s, the NWHC conducts research to better understand processes and environmental factors that influence spread, distribution, and transmission of HPAI in wild birds and poultry. Surveillance activities conducted by NWHC, in support of national HPAI surveillance objectives, provide critical information regarding avian influenza strains currently circulating in the U.S. and enhance our understanding of disease impacts on wild birds. Wild bird surveillance also provides early warning for the agricultural sector and helps inform the need for increased biosecurity at poultry facilities.
The NWHC routinely tests samples from wild birds for avian influenza viruses. In December 2014, the NWHC detected HPAI viruses of Asian origin in wild waterfowl in the state of Washington (Ip et al. 2015). By the end of 2015, losses associated with this HPAI outbreak exceeded 50 million poultry, resulting in over $3 billion dollars in economic impacts.
Between 2016 and 2021, the NWHC tested over 3,400 wild-bird carcasses and over 12,400 swab samples from healthy wild birds for the presence of avian influenza viruses. While HPAI was not detected in any of these samples, over 2,600 low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses were identified and characterized, providing critical information to wildlife and agricultural officials regarding the spatial distribution and strains of avian influenza viruses circulating in our nation’s wildlife.
HPAI Surveillance Update 2021-22
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in North American wild birds for the first time since 2015. Initial detections occurred in Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) and the United States (South Carolina) in December 2021. Additional detections in the United States are reported online by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a map of confirmed detections in North America is available from the NWHC.
Interagency Partnerships
The NWHC serves on the U.S. Interagency Steering Committee for Surveillance for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds and conducts morbidity and mortality event investigations in support of the Interagency Strategic Plan for Early Detection and Monitoring for Avian Influenzas of Significance in Wild Birds. The NWHC also serves as an affiliate member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) and collaborates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory on diagnostic testing of samples collected from wild birds for avian influenza surveillance.
Additional Resources
- Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in North America, 2021/2022 (Map)
- Avian influenza (USDA)
- Information on Avian Influenza (CDC)
- Implementation Plan for Avian Influenza Surveillance in Waterfowl in the United States
- NWHC Wildlife Health Bulletins
- Status and Response to Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in North America – February 2022
- Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in an Exhibition Farm in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada - December 2021
- Winter 2021 Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses Circulating Globally in Wild Birds - December 2021
More Information on Avian Influenza
Avian influenza is a viral disease caused by various strains of avian influenza viruses that can be classified as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which refers to a specific virus’ capability to cause mortality in domestic poultry. It remains a high consequence global disease with the potential to threaten wildlife, agriculture, and human health. Check out the main Avian Influenza page to learn more.
- Science
Learn about other NWHC work on avian influenza.
- Multimedia
Below are photos related to avian influenza surveillance.
- Publications
Below are publications related to avian influenza surveillance.
Filter Total Items: 43Avian influenza at both ends of a migratory flyway: characterizing viral genomic diversity to optimize surveillance plans for North America
Although continental populations of avian influenza viruses are genetically distinct, transcontinental reassortment in low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses has been detected in migratory birds. Thus, genomic analyses of LPAI viruses could serve as an approach to prioritize species and regions targeted by North American surveillance activities for foreign origin highly pathogenic avian infAuthorsJohn M. Pearce, Andrew M. Ramey, Paul L. Flint, Anson V. Koehler, Joseph P. Fleskes, J. Christian Franson, Jeffrey S. Hall, Dirk V. Derksen, Hon S. IpAnalytical validation of a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for Pan-American lineage H7 subtype Avian influenza viruses
A real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for the identification of the H7 subtype in North American Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) was first reported in 2002; however, recent AIV surveillance efforts in wild birds and H7 outbreaks in poultry demonstrated that the 2002 test did not detect all H7 AIVs present in North and South America. Therefore, a new test, the 2008 Pan-AmeAuthorsErica Spackman, Hon S. Ip, D.L. Suarez, R.D. Slemons, D.E. StallknechtPrevalence of Influenza A viruses in wild migratory birds in Alaska: Patterns of variation in detection at a crossroads of intercontinental flyways
Background. The global spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus has stimulated interest in a better understanding of the mechanisms of H5N1 dispersal, including the potential role of migratory birds as carriers. Although wild birds have been found dead during H5N1 outbreaks, evidence suggests that others have survived natural infections, and recent studies have shown several specAuthorsHon S. Ip, Paul L. Flint, J. Christian Franson, Robert J. Dusek, Dirk V. Derksen, Robert E. Gill, Craig R. Ely, John M. Pearce, Richard B. Lanctot, Steven M. Matsuoka, D.B. Irons, J.B. Fischer, R.M. Oates, Margaret R. Petersen, T.F. Fondell, D.A. Rocque, J.C. Pedersen, T.C. RotheInfluenza A virus infections in land birds, People's Republic of China
Water birds are considered the reservoir for avian influenza viruses. We examined this assumption by sampling and real-time reverse transcription-PCR testing of 939 Asian land birds of 153 species. Influenza A infection was found, particularly among migratory species. Surveillance programs for monitoring spread of these viruses need to be redesigned.AuthorsA.T. Peterson, S.E. Bush, Erica Spackman, D.E. Swayne, Hon S. IpAvian influenza surveillance of wild birds
The President's National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza directs federal agencies to expand the surveillance of United States domestic livestock and wildlife to ensure early warning of hightly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the U.S. The immediate concern is a potential introduction of HPAI H5N1 virus into the U.S. The presidential directive resulted in the U.S. Interagency Strategic Plan forAuthorsPaul SlotaCharacterization of low-pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza viruses from North America
Wild-bird surveillance in North America for avian influenza (AI) viruses with a goal of early identification of the Asian H5N1 highly pathogenic AI virus has identified at least six low-pathogenicity H5N1 AI viruses between 2004 and 2006. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from all 6 H5N1 viruses and an additional 38 North American wild-bird-origin H5 subtype and 28 N1 subtype virAuthorsErica Spackman, D. E. Swayne, D. L. Suarez, D. A. Senne, J. C. Pedersen, M. L. Killian, J. Pasick, K. Handel, S. P. S. Pillai, C. -W. Lee, D. Stallknecht, R. Slemons, Hon S. Ip, T. DelibertoSurveillance for Asian H5N1 avian influenza in the United States
Increasing concern over the potential for migratory birds to introduce the Asian H5N1 strain of avian influenza to North America prompted the White House Policy Coordinating Committee for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness to request that the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Interior (DOI) develop a plan for the early detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the United StateAuthorsHon S. Ip, Paul G. Slota - News
Below are news stories related to avian influenza.
- FAQ
Below are FAQs related to avian influenza.