Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS)

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
www.wcs.org

WCS Global Health Program

Avian Influenza Surveillance:  The WCS avian influenza (AI) surveillance team has been monitoring events closely since the return of H5N1 to Mongolia in May—the first time in three years. Last month, the team conducted surveys twice around lakes with the central aimags of Hovsgol, Bulgan and Arkhangai, including lakes where previous outbreaks had occurred. Following the initial reports at Doit Nuur in Ogii Nuur soum, no further mortality has been recorded. On 13 June, however, we received information from Russian media sources that virologists in Tuva were investigating wild bird mortalities on Uuvs Nuur and suspected H5N1. WCS veterinarian Martin Gilbert subsequently spent four days surveying the Mongolian shores of the lake in coordination with aimag veterinarians and the local National Emergency Management (NEMA) office. The WCS-NEMA survey team located small numbers of dead birds around the lake shores (primarily Pallas and Black-headed Gulls, with a single Great Crested Grebe) and collected samples. One freshly dead Pallas Gull was sent to the State Central Veterinary Laboratory for testing, and results are pending. The AI team is preparing for the main sampling season, running from July-September, targeting swans and geese in Khovsgol, Bulgan and Arkhangai aimags.