“I think the most important thing in research is to continue striving to conduct the best and most useful research that you are capable of producing.”

This paper provides a comprehensive picture of how the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza virus developed and evolved in poultry in Eastern Asia over the past five years. This was only possible due to the large number (over 92,000) of samples that were analyzed for this study. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that the virus causing poultry outbreaks and human deaths in Southeast Asia was a single dominant strain that had its origin in southern China. Also, this research highlights the benefit of long-term and systematic surveillance of avian influenza. This research group, which is the only one of its kind in Asia, has been conducting avian influenza surveillance in this region for the past 30 years. Due to this persistent effort we have been able to provide information on this emerging threat that has been of direct benefit for intervention in this possible pandemic influenza.

I have been involved in influenza research since the beginning of my Ph.D. studies in 1993 with the microbiologist Ken Shortridge—an emeritus professor at Hong Kong University—and Prof. Robert Webster of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, two pioneers in this field. So I consider myself very fortunate to have been given that opportunity. Since then I have continued to work in this field, in particular trying to understand influenza ecology in this region.

Of course there have been both successes and failures. However, it is important not to concentrate on either of these aspects. I think the most important thing in research is to continue striving to conduct the best and most useful research that you are capable of producing. Then, regardless of whether it is successful or not you can be satisfied that you have done the best you can.

The things that I am most proud of in my career are the contributions to understanding the fundamentals of the ecology of influenza viruses and also in determining the animal source of SARS in the markets of Guangzhou. However, I would like to stress that these result from the efforts of our entire research group.

The control of pandemic influenza is not just a scientific concern. As much of our research has economic and political implications, it is important to be certain of the conclusions we draw. At the same time, we must keep in mind that the aim of our research is prevention of a pandemic from zoonotic diseases (diseases which spread from animals to people) with the ability to cause mass human fatalities and huge economic disruption. Therefore, any short-term effects really are not quite so important.

Yi Guan, Ph.D.
Department of Microbiology
Queen Mary Hospital
The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong SAR, PRC

•	Read an INTERVIEW with J.S.M. Peiris and Dr. Y. Guan about the special topic of Avian Influenza.
•	Read the special topic of Coronavirus.