After Canada recorded its first human case of avian influenza, researchers at the University of Windsor plan to develop a platform to monitor the virus's spread in wild bird populations.
The one-year project to identify and monitor influenza subtypes received a $150,000 grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research under its Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies.
"With the first Canadian human case of H5N1e avian influenza recently confirmed in British Columbia and dozens of documented cases in the U.S. over the past year, we must remain vigilant," said Project Lead Doctor Kenneth Ng. "Although these cases have been isolated and the virus doesn't yet spread efficiently in humans, the situation can change quickly as the virus evolves."
The researchers will set up a surveillance platform in Windsor-Essex, which is a critical entry point for viruses and other pathogens into Canada.
The region is also where two bird migration routes intersect.
"Our goal is to identify mutations that enhance the virus's ability to infect and reproduce in different hosts, like birds, livestock, and humans," added Ng.
The team also includes Doctor Mike McKay, the director of the Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research and Doctor Dan Mennill, a professor of integrative biology.