Surveillance of wild birds for avian influenza virus in Korea

Lee, D.H., Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Song, C.S., Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Surveillance of wild birds for avian influenza virus in Korea

2013

Lee, D.H., Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea | Song, C.S., Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) have been isolated from a wide range of domestic and wild birds. Wild birds, predominantly ducks, geese and gulls form the reservoir of AIV in nature. The viruses in wild bird populations are a potential source of widespread infections in poultry. Active surveillance for AIV infection provides information regarding AIV distribution, and global AIV surveillance can play a key role in the early recognition of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Since 2003 in Korea, there have been four H5N1 HPAI outbreaks caused by clade 2.5, 2.2 and 2.3.2. Therefore, improvement of AIV surveillance strategy is required to detect HPAI viruses effectively. This article deals with the major events establishing the role of wild birds in the natural history of influenza in Korea. We highlighted the need for continuous surveillance in wild birds and characterization of these viruses to understand AIV epidemiology and host ecology in Korea.

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