Highlights for January 28, 2008

I. Departmental/Bureau News

• Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS): GAINS, the Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance , is a system that gathers information on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds. Its ongoing development is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). WCS works with several different partners on the GAINS system, including the USGS-managed NBII Wildlife Disease Information Node (WDIN) . The collaboration between WCS and WDIN has been to develop a database architecture that will be able to serve as a framework for different wildlife health surveillance systems. This architectural foundation has been named WISDOM, the Wildlife Information System for Disease Observation and Monitoring. WISDOM will allow WDIN to exchange wildlife disease data between the WDIN applications with those of GAINS and other surveillance systems. One potential use of WISDOM is the possibility of combining the international avian influenza data from GAINS with the data in the U.S. interagency system, the National HPAI Early Detection Data System (HEDDS). This exchange of information will provide a better picture of the location and movement of the disease across the globe. Building a geospatial understanding of the incidence and epidemiology of avian influenza is critical to the control and management of this costly disease. Since avian influenza also impacts domestic animals and humans, this system will be useful to professionals both inside and external to the wildlife professions. Additionally, the GAINS Web site provides resources that complement their highly regarded organization and the exciting work they do. Their interactive map shows where the project sites are located worldwide. (Bob Worrest, Reston, VA, 703-648-4074)

II. Agency Work on Presidential Initiatives
Nothing to report this week.

III. Notable Congressional Activity
Nothing to report this week.

IV. Press Inquiries/Media
Nothing to report this week.

V. Key FOIA Requests
Nothing to report this week.