H.R. 1405 would establish a wildlife global animal information network for surveillance internationally to combat the growing threat of emerging diseases that involve wild animals, such as bird flu.
Detailed Summary
Wildlife Global Animal Information Network for Surveillance Act or Wildlife GAINS Act - Requires the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (AID) to offer to enter into a contract with a nongovernmental wildlife conservation organization to establish a Wildlife Global Animal Information Network for Surveillance. Requires the eligible organization, in coordination with AID, to manage an international surveillance program under which federal and non-federal partners: (1) monitor and test for the presence or arrival of avian pathogens and other significant pathogens in free-ranging wildlife; (2) use trained professionals to collect samples and data; (3) conduct disease surveillance, field investigations, training and capacity-building activities, and research; (4) send samples for pathogen identification and testing to certified laboratories; and (5) transmit information related to global distribution and characteristics of significant pathogen to the Administrator.
Requires the Administrator, acting through the organization, to: (1) use surveillance reports and other sources to identify and investigate local outbreaks of infectious diseases involving wildlife; (2) develop a long-term baseline of regional data related to pathogens in migratory birds and other wildlife for analysis between and across sites to create a system to identify when and where outbreaks might occur and paths of dispersal; (3) provide technical assistance for disease prevention and control programs; (4) provide analytical disease findings to AID and other federal partners; and ( 5) manage, map, and make available on an Internet database all results and information gathered under this Act.
Directs the Administrator to request accredited colleges of veterinary medicine and other partners to train members of the Network to: (1) monitor important wildlife areas around the world; and (2) test for the presence or arrival of avian influenza and other significant pathogens of zoonotic concern or of concern to domestic or wild animals.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 3/30/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
rick Zeamer
Should be thrown out.
Wildlife cannot be blamed for our diseases. Bird flu comes from domestic bird abuse and is our own fault. Similar comment applies to AIDS. Verification of this exists on the web.
the Nighthawk
the primary purpose of this bill is to gather data that will improve the health of both citizens of this nation and the world, and the health of global and national biodiversity. in no way does this bill blame wildlife, it seeks to gain additional understanding about wildlife so that people may have the knowledge not make uninformed statements such as the last comment posted here.
Robyn
I was shocked to see so many people against this bill and if their reasoning is as stated above "wildlife cannot be blamed for our diseases" then this country is in serious trouble. Hopefully these are the uninformed minority. Hopefully.
Don
Robyn it is the uninformed minority. Mostly made up of scared exotic pet owners, after all they have been fighting for years to say their "pets" do not carry zoonotic diseases the last thing they wantis for people to start paying attention to the multitude of diseases exotic animals bring into this country or they might not be able to obtain their next show piece from whatever remote part of the jungle they find
Matt
yea, am I missing something why are so many people against this act. I wonder if it is as Don said and these are just exptic pet owners but I dont see why they should vote against this act. If their animals are as safe as they claim they are then what's the problem?
Roger
The CDC estimates that 75% of all emerging infectious threats are zoonotic and this may become a top threat to national security. Those that have voted against this bill do it in their own self interest and not in the best interest of the country.