TY - JOUR AU - Wallensten, Anders AU - Munster, Vincent J. AU - Latorre-Margalef, Neus AU - Brytting, Mia AU - Elmberg, Johan AU - Fouchier, Ron A.M. AU - Fransson, Thord AU - Haemig, Paul D. AU - Karlsson, Malin AU - Lundkvist, Åke AU - Osterhaus, Albert D.M.E. AU - Stervander, Martin AU - Waldenström, Jonas AU - Olsen, Björn T1 - Surveillance of Influenza Virus A in Migratory Waterfowl in Northern Europe T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2007 VL - 13 IS - 3 SP - 404 SN - 1080-6059 AB - We conducted large-scale, systematic sampling of influenza type A virus in migratory waterfowl (mostly mallards [Anas platyrhynchos]) at Ottenby Bird Observatory, southeast Sweden. As with previous studies, we found a higher prevalence in fall than spring, and among juveniles compared with adults. However, in contrast to other studies, we found that prevalence in spring was sometimes high (mean 4.0%, highest 9.5%). This finding raises the possibility that ducks are capable of perpetuating influenza A virus of different subtypes and subtype combinations throughout the year and from 1 year to the next. Isolation of the H5 and H7 subtypes was common, which suggests risk for transmission to sensitive domestic animals such as poultry. We argue that wild bird screening can function as a sentinel system, and we give an example of how it could have been used to forecast a remote and deadly outbreak of influenza A in poultry. KW - influenza A virus KW - influenza in birds KW - avian influenza KW - prevalence KW - ducks KW - surveillance KW - research KW - Sweden DO - 10.3201/eid1303.061130 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/13/3/06-1130_article ER - End of Reference