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Emerg Infect Dis
. 2023 Jan;29(1):45-53.
doi: 10.3201/eid2901.220659.
Integrating Citizen Scientist Data into the Surveillance System for Avian Influenza Virus, Taiwan
Hong-Dar Isaac Wu, Ruey-Shing Lin, Wen-Han Hwang, Mei-Liang Huang, Bo-Jia Chen, Tseng-Chang Yen, Day-Yu Chao
- PMID: 36573518
- DOI: 10.3201/eid2901.220659
Abstract
The continuing circulation and reassortment with low-pathogenicity avian influenza Gs/Gd (goose/Guangdong/1996)-like avian influenza viruses (AIVs) has caused huge economic losses and raised public health concerns over the zoonotic potential. Virologic surveillance of wild birds has been suggested as part of a global AIV surveillance system. However, underreporting and biased selection of sampling sites has rendered gaining information about the transmission and evolution of highly pathogenic AIV problematic. We explored the use of the Citizen Scientist eBird database to elucidate the dynamic distribution of wild birds in Taiwan and their potential for AIV exchange with domestic poultry. Through the 2-stage analytical framework, we associated nonignorable risk with 10 species of wild birds with >100 significant positive results. We generated a risk map, which served as the guide for highly pathogenic AIV surveillance. Our methodologic blueprint has the potential to be incorporated into the global AIV surveillance system of wild birds.
Keywords: Taiwan; avian influenza; citizen science; risk map; spatial analysis; surveillance; viruses; wild birds.