West Nile Virus Goes Beyond Crows

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http://ens.lycos.com/ens/nov99/1999L-11-18-09.html

WEST NILE VIRUS GOES BEYOND CROWS

MADISON, Wisconsin, November 18, 1999 (ENS) - The virus that can cause West

Nile encephalitis in humans is not found just in crows, say scientists at

the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center in

Madison. USGS has released a list of 18 bird species that the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Fort , Colorado, confirmed as

having tested positive for the West Nile virus. " Although the cause of death

has not been determined in all cases, we can assume that these birds were

exposed to the virus in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and

Connecticut, " said Dr. McLean, USGS wildlife biologist and director

of the Madison Center. " Some of these species could play a significant role

as we track the spread of this disease. "

A mosquito biting human skin (Photo courtesy CDC)

" The variety of birds is disturbing because many of these species migrate to

other areas and could potentially disseminate the disease elsewhere, " McLean

added. " The good news is, with the exception of American crows, there were

only a few individual birds from each respective species that tested

positive. " West Nile virus is transmitted by a mosquito, which acquires the

virus when it bites an infected bird. The virus is suspected to have caused

a series of human illnesses and deaths in the New York City area in

September. This is the first time West Nile virus has been recognized in the

U.S. or any other area of the Western Hemisphere. For more information,

visit the CDC website at:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/arbor/West_Nile_QA.htm