Avian Influenza and Wildlife Workshop: 'Practical Lessons Learned'

This report outlines the conclusions and recommendations that resulted from an international workshop on avian influenza and wild birds that was held in Scotland from June 26-28 2007. The workshop, convened by the Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild
Birds, and organised by the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and Scottish Natural Heritage, focused on 'practical lessons learnt' from recent cases of avian flu infection, and ways of combating the disease.

The workshop identified many conclusions and recommendations for combating the threat of bird flu. According to the report, many of the recommendations acknowledged the need to further develop national capacities within governments and inter-disciplinary collaborations in other areas to respond to the challenges posed by avian influenza. This would involve the close collaboration between governmental and non-governmental sectors, including integrating the expertise of epidemiologists, veterinarians, virologists, biologists and ornithologists.

The report offers conclusions and recommendations to combat avian influenza in 6 key areas:

• Contingency planning, risk assessment and response strategies;
• Surveillance and early warning systems;
• Epidemiology: tracing sources of infection;
• Communication, education and public awareness;
• Research and data needs; and
• Finances.

Regarding the above key area of communication, education and public awareness, the report concluded that the communication of clear scientific messages was the key to better public understanding. It was recommended that conservation organisations, scientists and veterinary services all needed to work proactively with the media to enhance the accuracy of reporting on avian flu. Some recommendations for future action also included:

• The development of effective communication strategies to give policy makers, stakeholders and the general public more balanced information on the real levels of risk and appropriate responses.
• The identification of specific members of organsiations who are responsible for media briefings and who work on a contingency and communications planning.
• The translation of information into a wider range of languages.
• The creation of a web-based list or directory of experts that could assist (at a distance) in identification of bird species to assist field-based staff responses to cases of infection.