Avian influenza

Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious disease caused by type A influenza viruses. The virus infects fowl, turkeys, ducks, geese and wild birds. VLA aims to:

  • provide a rapid, reliable diagnostic service for statutory tests.
  • provide an international reference laboratory service.
  • improve diagnostic methods of virus detection and characterisation.
  • improve our understanding of virus virulence, host range, host adaptation and disease pathogenicity.
  • improve our understanding of avian influenza epidemiology.

As the International Reference Laboratory for avian influenza, VLA carries out confirmatory tests on samples from many other countries. These are processed as rapidly as possible after receipt at the laboratory. Anyone seeking the results of these tests should contact the authorities in the respective country of origin.

An alternative source of information is the OIE table of avian influenza notifications.

Genetic data

VLA as the EU/OIE/FAO reference laboratory for avian influenza is currently seeking to secure agreement to release genetic data related to the current H5N1 incidents in Europe for the benefit of the scientific community.

Although some data is preliminary and analysis is still in progress we will be seeking approval from countries submitting viruses and other materials to VLA Weybridge for permission to share such data so that confidentiality is not compromised.