EI on the diagnostics agenda

Australian and international scientists are meeting in Melbourne this week to discuss new and emerging animal diseases at the 13th International World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (WAVLD) symposium.

WAVLD co-chair and the director of CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Dr Martyn Jeggo, said discussions will focus on the theme of preparing for animal health challenges of the future.

"The main purpose of the WAVLD conference is to update scientists from across the globe on the latest information on infectious animal diseases and the role major laboratories like AAHL play in preparing for, identifying, controlling and eradicating these diseases," Jeggo said.

"There will be a particular focus on foot and mouth disease, bluetongue disease, avian influenza and equine influenza (EI)."

A special EI session has been added to the program following the recent outbreak of the disease in Australia, the president of the Australian Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), Dr Peter Kirkland, said.

"Australia's EI outbreak has raised a number of fascinating questions beyond the simple one of where did EI come from," he said.

"These include issues of how best to mount an effective response to a large-scale emergency, what different diagnostic tests have to offer and what options there are in recovering from such an event."