Isle of Riems, 21. July 2023. Black-headed gulls in Germany, gannets in the UK, grizzlies in the USA, sea lions in Chile and poultry in many countries - never before has the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) of the subtype H5 circulated to such an extent and caused so many spillover infections in mammals. From a seasonal epidemic to a panzootic, the virus is preoccupying scientists, farmers, ornithologists and authorities. With the kick-off meeting on 14th of July, the consortium of outstanding experts from 10 international research institutes KAPPA-FLU, coordinated by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), has started its work focusing on HPAIV H5.
KAPPA-FLU aims to understand the connectivity and dynamics of HPAI H5 viruses in wild birds, poultry and the environment, including the impact of climate change and zoonotic risks. The consortium partners from three continents and different disciplines enable this important One Health approach.
KAPPA-FLU aims to improve risk- and knowledge-based surveillance and to identify new and cost-effective prevention and control options (including vaccination) for HPAI in poultry and wildlife that will improve human health, animal welfare, wildlife conservation and the sustainability of poultry production.
Martin Beer, Head of the Institute of Diagnostic Virology at FLI and Coordinator of the Kappa-FLU Consortium: "In this time of dramatic H5N1 outbreaks, KAPPA-FLU allows us to bring together a wealth of research expertise to address urgent research questions such as the factors that drive the spread of these viruses or the risk of zoonotic transmission.
Further information: https://kappa-flu.fli.de/de/home
Partners
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Germany
Department of Viroscience of the ERASMUS University Medical Center (ERASMUS MC), Netherlands
Linnaeus University (LNU), Sweden
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVE), Italy
Swiss Ornithological Institute (SWISS OI), Switzerland
Animal and Plant Health Agency (DEFRA-APHA), United Kingdom
Royal Veterinary College (RVC), United Kingdom
Collaborators
Hong Kong University
St. Jude Children‘s Research Hospital, USA
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
