Thread View: rec.birds
11 messages
11 total messages
Started by "David H. Ley"
Wed, 06 Oct 1999 00:00
Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: "David H. Ley"
Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 00:00
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All, Information on West Nile Virus follows. Birders and especially rehabilitators and wildlife care personnel all along the Atlantic costal area of North America should be aware of this newly emerging disease. We hope that you will find this information useful, dl David H. Ley, DVM, PhD, ACVM, ACPV College of Veterinary Medicine North Carolina State University 4700 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27606 USA Visit our Poultry Health Management Web pages at: http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/info/departs/fae/PHM/ INFORMATION SHEET - WEST NILE VIRUS H. John Barnes Poultry Health Management Group College of Veterinary Medicine North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27606 October 6, 1999 An epidemic of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) recently occurred in the New York City area that involved at least 37 individuals including 5 deaths. The cause was initially thought to be St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus, the most common type of arboviral encephalitis in the US. More detailed analysis of samples that have been processed so far revealed that the causative agent was not SLE, but a closely related virus similar or identical to West Nile (WN) virus. This virus has not been found in the Western Hemisphere previously. In association with the outbreak in people, birds in the area, especially crows, were also found to be sick and dying, and paralysis and deaths occurred among birds in the Bronx zoo. Mortality in crows has continued with hundreds having been found dead in New York City, surrounding counties, and western Connecticut. WN virus has been recovered from dead birds and mosquitoes that have been sampled. Dead crows found in neighboring New Jersey are currently being tested. No confirmed evidence of WN virus activity outside of New York and Connecticut has been found as of October 1. West Nile virus was initially isolated from the blood of an infected person in Uganda (East Africa) in 1937. Subsequently it has been found to be widely distributed throughout Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Southeastern Europe. It is a flavivirus that is related to a number of other similar viruses, including SLE. The primary life cycle involves birds and mosquitoes. Mammals, including people, are accidentally involved following bites by infected mosquitoes. When infected mosquitoes, usually Culex spp., feed on birds that are suitable hosts, they become infected and develop prolonged viremia (virus circulating in the blood). This permits subsequent mosquitoes feeding on these birds to become infected and perpetuate the virus. Generally birds that are suitable hosts do not develop disease. However, birds that are not suitable hosts either do not become infected or may develop paralysis and die. A wide variety of birds have antibodies to WN virus indicating they have had earlier infections. In one study, gulls were found to be a common avian host. Chickens are susceptible to WN virus. In Romania, 41% of chickens were seropositive for WN virus when examined during a WN epidemic of encephalitis in people. Paralysis and occasional deaths have been reported in chicks, pigeons, and wild birds. Susceptibility of turkeys does not appear to have been determined. However, turkeys become infected and develop clinical disease with another related flavivirus - Turkey Meningoencephalitis (TME) virus, which has been reported from Israel and South Africa. It is possible WN virus will become established in the US. If so, it will likely migrate down the East Coast and become endemic in the Southeast. Infections will occur much like other mosquito-borne viruses (e.g. SLE and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus) with a seasonal occurrence coinciding with increased mosquito populations. It is unlikely that chickens will be affected even though they are susceptible. Turkeys may develop disease as they already have a documented susceptibility to a related flavivirus; especially likely would be drops in egg production in breeders. Aviculturists, poultry producers, and diagnostic labs, especially along the East Coast, need to be on the watch for nervous diseases or mortality in crows or other wild birds as well as poultry flocks. Although direct bird to human infection is unlikely, care should be taken when picking up dead birds (use a double plastic bag inverted over your hand to pick up the bird and then pull the bag up over the carcass). Wash hands and any contaminated materials thoroughly. Appropriate samples for WN virus isolation (brain, liver, spleen, heart blood) need to be taken in case they are needed to confirm presence of the virus. At the field level, management practices to discourage mosquitoes (emptying containers of water around farms, draining or filling in low areas, etc.) may be useful. Emergence of WN virus infections of people and birds in the US needs to be closely monitored. Several web sites are sources of current information. One that is especially useful is: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/arbor/arboinfo.htm Current CDC press releases can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/index.htm Information on wild birds can be found at: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/nwhchome.html
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: "Joe Pylka"
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 00:00
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Janet Davis wrote >
>I tried to tell these people about the disease, and I tried to tell them
>that heroic measures may soon be necessary to arrest its progress in the
>human population.
>But what did they do? They flamed and vilified me.
>It's what ignorant people do best.
>
Well, no. Instead they persist in trumpeting their misinformation.
Insofar as heroic measures soon to be undertaken is concerned, there are
frost warnings issued for tonight in NJ and NY as well as PA. Usually these
conditions will kill off the actively breeding mosquitoes far more quickly
than we ever can with insecticides. If the vector is gone, so is the
incidence of the disease. Not only for us, but for the birds as well. Have
any birds with this disease migrated southward far enough to have reached
warmer climes? Who knows, but probably not. The prime avian victim in NJ
seems to be the Crow, which doesn't have particularly strong migratory
leanings.
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: "Tess Anderson"
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 00:00
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> I tried to tell these people about the disease, and I tried to tell them > that heroic measures may soon be necessary to arrest its progress in the > human population. > I love being able to quote people's own words back at them. Here is what Janet Davis said in reply to a post about a noisy Cockatiel: > There are several ways you can deal with the "problem" (how can a natural > phenomenon be a problem?), one of which is to wait. Couldn't have said it better myself. David Heath Portland, OR
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: sy_nttvr@gurcrag
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 1999 00:00
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On 7 Oct 1999 19:45:57 -0600, Janet Davis <jd2O1@nospm.hotmail.com>, in <37fd3ec5@news.acadiacom.net> wrote: + I tried to tell these people about the disease, and I tried to tell them + that heroic measures may soon be necessary to arrest its progress in the + human population. + But what did they do? They flamed and vilified me. Yes, that's right. Why don't you tell us about St. Louis and Equine encephalitis that *already* exists in the mosquitos of Louisianna? You did know that, right? James -- Consulting Minister for Consultants, DNRC The Bill of Rights is paid in Responsibilities - Jean McGuire To cure your perl CGI problems, please look at: <url:http://www.perl.com/CPAN/doc/FAQs/cgi/idiots-guide.html>
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: rees@interlog.cp
Date: Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:00
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OK, I give up. I've really been trying not to get into this argument. Janet, what are you planning to do? Sterilize the earth? Yes, encephilitis is scary. Cover your family in insect repellant. Stop feeding urban birds. And, I know this may sound really stupid to you, but if you can't handle living in the environment that you are living in, maybe you should look for somewhere else to live. Do you really think that wiping out millions of birds is going to protect you & your family? Do you really think there won't be another disease/virus/bacteria/critter to take its place? Maybe one of those birds that you are so ready to kill, will eat the mosquito that would bite your child. Maybe eliminating all the birds will just open up a whole new niche for some other disease that we have no other way of fighting. Maybe those birds you want to destroy are actually protecting us from something far worse. Do you know for sure? Do you really feel that you are in the position to make the decision to erase entire populations of animals that may actually be saving your life & the lives of millions of other people? Try to be a little more realistic. You can't wipe out the threat; it or some other threat is always going to be there. If its not encephalitis, it'll be something else. Removing the birds is not a practical or safe solution. History has proven over and over, that as soon as you remove a group of organisms (especially predators, which many birds are) you open the doors for more detrimental (to humans) organisms. You know, no matter how hard we try, we cannot mold the earth to fulfill all of our needs and expectations. You really will be happier & feel more secure if you try to adapt yourself ( a little bit more) to your environment, instead of trying to make your environment adapt to you. Well, I've spewed out everything I've been holding in. I am not trying to flame you, or embarrass you, or put you down. But, I really think you have to look at the problem from a different perspective. Wiping out hundreds/ thousands/millions of animals is not a solution. Paul On 7 Oct 1999 19:45:57 -0600, jd2O1@nospm.hotmail.com (Janet Davis) wrote: >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 13:35:08 -0400, David H. Ley <david_ley@ncsu.edu> wrote: >>All, >>Information on West Nile Virus follows. Birders and especially >>rehabilitators and wildlife care personnel all along the Atlantic costal >>area of North America should be aware of this newly emerging disease. > >I tried to tell these people about the disease, and I tried to tell them >that heroic measures may soon be necessary to arrest its progress in the >human population. > >But what did they do? They flamed and vilified me. > >It's what ignorant people do best. > >Just as New Orleans did to its pigeon population (killed it), we may soon >have to do to diseased and dangerous birds along such places as the >Mississippi flyway. > >Our children and our old people must be protected at all costs. Visit Melanie's Room Science, animals and stuff for Kids http://www.interlog.com/~rees/melaniesroom
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: lynda_mccormick@
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 00:00
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Janet,
You might be pleased to know that you "Made" the "Montreal
Gazette" this weekend. Our regular birding columnist quoted part of
your first 'warning' post to caution the rest of us that there were
indeed people 'out there' like YOU. People who punish innocent
victems out of ignorance. His adivice to you and anyone 'like' you
was "grow up" or "Take a valium".
However, he was kind, he didn't add your name to your
warning.
Lynda
On 7 Oct 1999 19:45:57 -0600, jd2O1@nospm.hotmail.com (Janet Davis)
wrote:
>On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 13:35:08 -0400, David H. Ley <david_ley@ncsu.edu> wrote:
>>All,
>>Information on West Nile Virus follows. Birders and especially
>>rehabilitators and wildlife care personnel all along the Atlantic costal
>>area of North America should be aware of this newly emerging disease.
>
>I tried to tell these people about the disease, and I tried to tell them
>that heroic measures may soon be necessary to arrest its progress in the
>human population.
>
>But what did they do? They flamed and vilified me.
>
>It's what ignorant people do best.
>
>Just as New Orleans did to its pigeon population (killed it), we may soon
>have to do to diseased and dangerous birds along such places as the
>Mississippi flyway.
>
>Our children and our old people must be protected at all costs.
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: "K. Janigan"
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
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Janet Davis wrote: > > On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 13:35:08 -0400, David H. Ley <david_ley@ncsu.edu> wrote: > >All, > >Information on West Nile Virus follows. Birders and especially > >rehabilitators and wildlife care personnel all along the Atlantic costal > >area of North America should be aware of this newly emerging disease. > > I tried to tell these people about the disease, and I tried to tell them > that heroic measures may soon be necessary to arrest its progress in the > human population. > > But what did they do? They flamed and vilified me. > > It's what ignorant people do best. > > Just as New Orleans did to its pigeon population (killed it), we may soon > have to do to diseased and dangerous birds along such places as the > Mississippi flyway. > > Our children and our old people must be protected at all costs. Hey Janet, Just because you seem to like living on the edge of fear and panic, I heard that we're due for another "flu pandemic like the Spanish flu of 1918. And just think, it will have nothing to do with birds, but people to people transmission. Let's see, who can we kill to stop this -- because no previous flu vaccine will give anyone immunity. Hmmmm. Let's see... who could we kill to stop this? I'm sure that you'll have some suggestions. Oh wait, who are the ones who die from tainted burger meat or shellfish poisonin -- young people and old people. What should we kill to stop this? Janet, my poor panicked one, everyone is going to die eventually. Living is inherently risky. It's impossible to have NO RISK. We just have to take care to reasonably limit it. Killing all the birds because of a mosquito-borne infection, is not reasonable. Keeping your kids protected from mosquitos is, draining mosquito-hatching ponds is, perhaps spraying against mosquitos is (I don't know what other consequences that may have.) That's why people are reacting to you the way they are. You are not being reasonable. If you are sincere in your posts, I would hate to be you. I could never live with the over-active anxiety you seem to suffer from. So, sincerely, good luck dealing with it. Karen
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: sy_nttvr@gurcrag
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
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On Thu, 14 Oct 1999 14:19:45 GMT, K. Janigan <sangsara@tallships.ca>, in <3805E6B2.3E8D6D76@tallships.ca> wrote: + Janet, my poor panicked one, everyone is going to die eventually. Living + is inherently risky. It's impossible to have NO RISK. <dig><dig> Ah, I thought I had this quote... Insisting on perfect safety is for people who don't have the balls to live in the real world. -- Mary Shafer, NASA Dryden James - if memory serves, Mary flew experimental aircraft for NASA... -- Consulting Minister for Consultants, DNRC The Bill of Rights is paid in Responsibilities - Jean McGuire To cure your perl CGI problems, please look at: <url:http://www.perl.com/CPAN/doc/FAQs/cgi/idiots-guide.html>
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: "K. Janigan"
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
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I R A Darth Aggie wrote: > > On Thu, 14 Oct 1999 14:19:45 GMT, K. Janigan <sangsara@tallships.ca>, in > <3805E6B2.3E8D6D76@tallships.ca> wrote: > > + Janet, my poor panicked one, everyone is going to die eventually. Living > + is inherently risky. It's impossible to have NO RISK. > > <dig><dig> Ah, I thought I had this quote... > > Insisting on perfect safety is for people who don't have the balls to > live in the real world. > -- Mary Shafer, NASA Dryden > > James - if memory serves, Mary flew experimental aircraft for NASA... > > -- > Consulting Minister for Consultants, DNRC > The Bill of Rights is paid in Responsibilities - Jean McGuire > To cure your perl CGI problems, please look at: > <url:http://www.perl.com/CPAN/doc/FAQs/cgi/idiots-guide.html> A little extreme, too, James... but I suscribe to the the spirit. cheers Karen
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: "K. Janigan"
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
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High Flight wrote: > > In rec.pets.birds I R A Darth Aggie <sy_nttvr@gurcragntba.pbz> cyberscribed: > > On Thu, 14 Oct 1999 14:19:45 GMT, K. Janigan <sangsara@tallships.ca>, in > > <3805E6B2.3E8D6D76@tallships.ca> wrote: > > > > + Janet, my poor panicked one, everyone is going to die eventually. Living > > + is inherently risky. It's impossible to have NO RISK. > > > > <dig><dig> Ah, I thought I had this quote... > > > > Insisting on perfect safety is for people who don't have the balls to > > live in the real world. > > -- Mary Shafer, NASA Dryden > > I'd settle on reasonable, practical safety. > > Jack > > -- > aka Keet Visit my web page at http://junior.apk.net/~jac/ > "Taking physical risks is a family tradition." - Robert Kennedy hear, hear
Re: Dead Birds, Encephalitis, West Nile Virus
Author: rees@interlog.cp
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 00:00
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Cool! On Wed, 13 Oct 1999 11:39:23 GMT, lynda_mccormick@hotmail.com wrote: >Janet, > You might be pleased to know that you "Made" the "Montreal >Gazette" this weekend. Our regular birding columnist quoted part of >your first 'warning' post to caution the rest of us that there were >indeed people 'out there' like YOU. People who punish innocent >victems out of ignorance. His adivice to you and anyone 'like' you >was "grow up" or "Take a valium". > > However, he was kind, he didn't add your name to your >warning. > > >Lynda > > > > > > > > > > >On 7 Oct 1999 19:45:57 -0600, jd2O1@nospm.hotmail.com (Janet Davis) >wrote: > >>On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 13:35:08 -0400, David H. Ley <david_ley@ncsu.edu> wrote: >>>All, >>>Information on West Nile Virus follows. Birders and especially >>>rehabilitators and wildlife care personnel all along the Atlantic costal >>>area of North America should be aware of this newly emerging disease. >> >>I tried to tell these people about the disease, and I tried to tell them >>that heroic measures may soon be necessary to arrest its progress in the >>human population. >> >>But what did they do? They flamed and vilified me. >> >>It's what ignorant people do best. >> >>Just as New Orleans did to its pigeon population (killed it), we may soon >>have to do to diseased and dangerous birds along such places as the >>Mississippi flyway. >> >>Our children and our old people must be protected at all costs. > Visit Melanie's Room Science, animals and stuff for Kids http://www.interlog.com/~rees/melaniesroom
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