In avian influenza surveillance, morbidity and mortality are monitored year-round in which scope?

• A. All species
• B. Domestic poultry only
• C. Wild birds only
• D. Markets only

Answer: (A)

The important idea here is that avian influenza surveillance aims to catch any circulation of the virus across all potential hosts, so morbidity and mortality are tracked year-round in every species that could be affected. This broad scope is essential because the virus can jump between wild birds and domestic poultry, or appear in markets, and each of these pathways can signal new introductions or ongoing transmission. By monitoring all species, investigators can detect unusual illness or deaths anywhere, trigger investigations quickly, and implement control measures promptly across the whole system. Narrowing the focus to only domestic poultry, wild birds, or markets could miss outbreaks in other areas or in other species, delaying response and allowing the virus to spread.