Since you work with VIU Bird Banding Project, you may closely interact with wild birds that are susceptible to influenza A virus infection. We would like to invite you and other staff/volunteers/students to participate in a research study looking at the prevalence of avian influenza (also known as HPAI / H5N1 / Bird Flu) exposure in people. Participants must be over the age of 18 to be eligible.
This study is being run by the Kindrachuk Lab at the University of Manitoba and has received ethics approval from the Committee for Harmonized Health Impact, Privacy, and Ethics Review (CHIPER) Research Ethics Board (Review Reference # 2248 – 6347).
Participation will involve answering a questionnaire and providing a dried blood spot sample to test for the presence of avian influenza antibodies. The questionnaire will allow us to understand factors that may play a role in infection with avian influenza. Your participation is voluntary, and your personal information will be kept securely and separately from the data collected (data will be deidentified). Each person who completes the survey/provides a dried blood spot sample will receive a $25 gift card as compensation for your participation in this study.
If you would like to participate, please let us know by responding to this e-mail. We will ship you the dried blood spot sample kits, including pre-paid postage to return the samples. There will be no cost incurred to you as an individual or your organization. We also have poster materials about HPAI / H5N1 / Bird Flu available free of charge if you would like any for your organization.
To participate, contact Mikayla Hunter Mikayla.Hunter@umanitoba.ca.
Thank you in advance for considering participating in our study!
