River Ganga is a lifeline to about 500 million people inhabiting its basin. The river Ganga provides water for drinking, domestic needs, agriculture, livelihoods, industrial use, fishing, boating, recreation, religious, cultural activities and for energy. Besides the humans, the river supports rich fauna and flora, including the endangered Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica), ...

The introduction of disease into the New World changed both flora and fauna. The need for coordinated veterinary public health activities was highlighted when anthrax and encephalitis were reported in native populations. The Pan American Health Organization has been a proponent of public health and animal health since its inception. Neither discipline can be successful without the other.

BACKGROUND Very little is known regarding the persistence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses in aquatic environments in tropical countries, although environmental materials have been suggested to play a role as reservoirs and sources of transmission for H5N1 viruses. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The survival of HPAI H5N1 viruses in experimental aquatic biotopes (water,...