Help expand Australia’s wildlife disease surveillance network

Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) are keen for Australian veterinary professionals, including vets, nurses and practice managers from all types of clinics, to complete a short 5-minute survey to help design an expanded wildlife disease surveillance network.

WHA coordinates a Sentinel Wildlife Disease Surveillance Program to capture information on free-ranging and rehabilitation wildlife cases across Australia. The information captured through this program is used to better understand disease threats to biodiversity, human health, and livestock, and contributes to the national picture of wildlife health. As well as capturing valuable data, the program creates a network that facilitates communication.

WHA’s CEO and AVA member Dr Rupert Woods said: “By taking this short survey, you’re helping us to shape what surveillance looks like in your local area. We’re very keen to expand the Program to engage more broadly with vets, nurses and practice managers to better understand either the barriers to or the opportunities for vet practices to be involved”.

Visit the survey site to complete the anonymous and quick 5 minute survey. If you would like to be involved in a wildlife health network, or would like further information on the topics covered in this survey, please email Dr Clare Death.

The veterinary clinics involved in the existing program are part of the general surveillance across Australia. There is currently heightened awareness around the exclusion of avian influenza from wild bird mortality and morbidity events. For more information on the current global situation, have a look at the Wildlife Health Australia High pathogenicity avian influenza information incident page. Information on the current H7 outbreak in Victoria can be found on the WHA incident page here.