Birds and Bugs and Bites (oh my!): Applied epidemiology in One Health

Abstract

I completed my Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology (MAE) at the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in Canberra, ACT. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry focuses on a range of issues of importance to Australian primary producers and the public, including biosecurity, agricultural production, and trade. Along with State and Territory Governments, DAFF has strong connections with industry partners, ranging from industry representatives such as the Meat and Livestock Association to commercial producers such as SunPork, one of the largest pork suppliers in Australia. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry also has strong relationships with advisory bodies such as Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) and Animal Health Australia (AHA), and with university research partners such as the University of Melbourne.

My projects focused on animal diseases and diseases of One Health significance. I described the effects of Japanese encephalitis virus on Australian piggeries, I evaluated the Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy component of the National Avian Influenza Wild Birds surveillance program, and I investigated an outbreak of very virulent infectious bursal disease in Solomon Islands chickens. This thesis also describes other experiences I had during the MAE, including two field trips I went on to support two of my projects, my teaching experiences, my involvement in working groups and my role coordinating the Veterinary Epidemiology and Surveillance Throughout Australia network.