The aim of the Wild Bird Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS) program is to expand operational field capabilities, improve the understanding of viral strains and transmission of influenza viruses in wild birds, and to disseminate information to all levels of governments, international organizations, the private sector and the general public. GAINS is a global surveillance network of wild birds for avian influenza. Our strategies are: improving the collection, coordination, and laboratory evaluation of samples from wild birds in order to identify locations of avian influenza viral strains; identifying genetic changes in virus isolates; enhancing links with wild bird distribution and migration information, and providing an early warning system for global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that threatens domestic poultry and human health as well as biodiversity (particularly avian). (Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance, About GAINS. Accessed March 20, 2008 at: http: //www.gains.org/