Avian influenza and environmental surveillance training workshop

WOAH Collaborating Centre Training on Sample Collection for Avian Influenza
and Environmental Surveillance

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) convened a regional Collaborating Centre (CC) training workshop on sample collection for avian influenza and environmental surveillance, hosted by Mahidol University in Thailand.

The workshop brought together wildlife veterinarians, laboratory specialists, and surveillance practitioners from across Asia & the Pacific to strengthen practical skills in wildlife and environmental sampling, with a strong focus on avian influenza (AI) and One Health–oriented surveillance approaches. It combined classroom sessions, laboratory demonstrations, and field-based practical exercises.

The objectives of the training were to:

• Strengthen technical capacity in wildlife and environmental sampling for avian influenza surveillance
• Promote good biosafety and biosecurity practices during wildlife fieldwork
• Enhance understanding of environmental surveillance, including eDNA techniques
• Foster regional collaboration and networking among wildlife health professionals
• Highlight and leverage WOAH Collaborating Centre expertise in Asia & the Pacific

The training was based on a dedicated technical manual, developed by WOAH Collaborating Centres specifically for this workshop, which provided standard operating procedures (SOPs) and a structured training curriculum for wildlife and environmental sample collection for avian influenza surveillance.

The training was led by the WOAH Collaborating Centre for Wildlife Health Surveillance & Epidemiology at Mahidol University, with contributions from other WOAH Collaborating Centres in the region and other international wildlife health specialists.

The training was supported by Mahidol University and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Details

Date: 10-14 November 2025 (Monday – Friday)

Agenda: PDF

Reference documents:

• Manual – Training Curriculum on Sample Collection for Avian Influenza and Environmental Surveillance
• WOAH Training Manual on Wildlife Diseases Outbreak Investigations