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Pirbright researchers are set to affix forces with a number of the UK’s prime specialists in avian influenza in a brand new analysis consortium devoted to tackling chicken flu.
This consortium has acquired £1.5 million from the Biotechnology and Biosciences Analysis Council (BBSRC) and the Division of Setting, Meals and Rural Affairs (Defra), and is accountable for growing new methods to deal with chicken flu outbreaks.
The UK is within the migratory flight path for wild birds flying throughout northern Europe, due to this fact outbreaks happen every year. Nevertheless, this yr has seen a number of the largest outbreaks the UK has ever skilled which has had a big impact on poultry well being and the financial system.
It’s hoped that by means of collaboration and data alternate, this consortium will assist to search out methods to manage the unfold of illness. This may subsequently enhance the UK poultry trade and rural financial system, which have suffered throughout current outbreaks and lockdowns of poultry flocks.
The important thing goals of the consortium embrace:
- Monitoring present flu virus strains
- Understanding unfold of illness in numerous chicken populations
- Growing fashions to foretell how the avian influenza virus could unfold
- Informing methods to lower threat of illness and transmission to folks.
Professor Munir Iqbal, Head of Pirbright’s Avian Influenza Virus group, stated: “The experience of Pirbright’s researchers will assist to realize the important thing goals of this consortium and as an Institute we’re extraordinarily proud to be a part of this. Avian influenza is an economically essential virus that has devastating results on the poultry trade, due to this fact improved understanding of the virus will give us extra perception into the way it spreads and inform our management methods to forestall it from spreading to folks and different animals.”
Supply: The Pirbright Institute
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