Bird Bander Study

gamehogghuntclub.com

 
WHO:

Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Minnesota Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (MCEIRS). (NIH DMID protocol: 09-0024)

WHAT:

A web-based study of US bird banders to determine if bird banders have evidence of avian influenza (flu) infections.  We will enroll and annually follow up to 300 adult banders and 50 age-group matched non-wild bird exposed controls over a 12-month period.  As this is a country-wide study, we are offering study documents online and study procedures will be conducted at your primary healthcare clinic.

WHERE:

Throughout the United States.

WHEN:

Enrollments will begin soon and the study will last approximately 12 months, with monitoring for influenza-like illness.

WHY:

Bird banders have intense occupational exposures to wild birds that may carry avian influenza virus. The purpose of the study is to prospectively examine bird banders, such that we might better identify risk factors for avian influenza transmission to man associated with banding.


Financial compensation is provided.

 

To participate, you must:


    1. Be a Master permit or Subpermit holder who has been engaged in non-passerine bird banding activities in the last 12 months and is expecting to continue the activity
    2. Be 18 years of age or older

    3. Have no immunocompromising chronic clinical conditions and not be receiving chemotherapy

    4. Not have been a participant of the "UCLA Avian Influenza Project" at the American Ornithological Union conference in Portland, OR in August 2008

 

Enroll in the Bird Bander study (click here)

 

For suggestions regarding how to gain help from healthcare providers in collecting study specimens .....PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Participant illness reporting (click here)