Pacific Islands H5N1 Wildlife Surveillance Plan General Overview

Why Sample Wild Birds? They are the known reservoirs of AI They are suspected to move HPAI H5N1 in Europe, Asia and Africa In the U.S., domestic poultry is monitored carefully and importation of products from HPAI areas is controlled. Wild birds are not regularly monitored

Why Sample the Pacific Islands? Flyways include known HPAI areas in China, NE Asia Species (esp. shorebirds) in the Pacific are not well sampled in N. America. U.S.-Affiliated Pacific covers an area larger than N. America, and reaches within 700 miles of Indonesia

Pacific Ocean Flyways

Sampling Methods 1. Investigation of Morbidity/Mortality Events (most likely detection) 2. Surveillance in Live Wild Birds 3. Sentinel species (ducks) 4. Environmental (Fecal) Sampling Collaboration between USDA-WS, FWS, USGS, and local wildlife agencies

Priority Species Ducks Shorebirds Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Other Asian species Pacific Golden-Plover Ruddy Turnstone Bristle-thighed Curlew Other Asian species Based on numbers on Pacific Islands, Asian component in breeding range, and mixing with Asian birds during migration

Surveillance: Live Ducks Ducks preferable to shorebirds due to higher AI prevalence No hunting or banding currently Capture ducks with baited traps –Sample size desired ~200 for each species Focus on Hawai’i and Marianas Requires dedicated crew plus volunteers

Surveillance: Live Shorebirds Shorebirds more abundant but dispersed Fecal sampling more efficient than capture? Capture with –Mist nets –Walk-in traps –“Whoosh” nets Focus on Hawai’i, Marianas, island Refuges Requires dedicated crew plus volunteers

Dead Bird Sampling Plan Use live bird crews plus existing networks in Hawai’i, Marianas Add 1 dedicated tech each to Palau, American Samoa All migratory mortalities will be investigated Coordinate with existing agriculture, wildlife agencies and networks