WEST NILE VIRUS UPDATE 2002 - USA (03)
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A ProMED-mail post
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[Note: Now that West Nile virus infection is endemic throughout much of the 
Eastern seaboard of the United States, most reports on West Nile virus 
infection in year 2002 will be combined and presented as an "update" at 
regular, but not more frequent than weekly, intervals determined by the 
volume of such reports. As previously, however, reports of human infection, 
infection of new hosts, extension of geographical range, and events of 
special significance will be posted immediately on receipt. - Mod.CP]

In this update:
[1] Bird (Washington DC)
[2] Birds (New Jersey)
[3] Bird (New York)

[1]
Date: Wed 15 May 2002
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: The Washington Post (page B01), Wed 15 May 2002 [edited]
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17206-2002May14.html>


First West Nile virus infected bird of the year confirmed in Washington DC
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On Mon 13 May 2002, Washington reported its first West Nile virus (WNV) 
infected bird of the year. It was found on Wed 1 May 2002 in Connecticut 
Avenue NW, a block from the National Zoo, and tested positive on 6 May 2002 
at a Maryland Health Department Laboratory in Baltimore. The city recorded 
360 infected birds last year.

Maryland so far has had no reports of infected birds, officials said 
yesterday, though the state's active virus surveillance has started. Last 
year, Maryland's first infected birds were reported in May, and the state 
eventually recorded 454.

Virginia has recorded 2 WNV infected birds this year: one found on 8 Apr 
2002 in Arlington County, the second on 19 Apr 2002 in Fairfax County, a 
health department spokeswoman said yesterday. That is 3 months earlier than 
the appearance of the state's first bird infection last year, when the 
state logged 215 such birds.

The Washington area's only human West Nile infections last year were in 
Maryland, where there were 6 cases and 2 fatalities. Both deaths were of 
people suffering from other maladies.

[This year] the virus has cropped up in wildlife in Florida, Pennsylvania, 
Louisiana, Florida, and Illinois. Last year, it spread up and down the East 
coast and out to the Midwest. Experts have said they expect its spread to 
continue rapidly. West Nile Virus, which first appeared in the United 
States in New York City in 1999, is generally not dangerous in humans. Most 
infected people suffer no ill effects. In some infirm or elderly people, 
though, it can cause potentially fatal encephalitis. Birds, especially 
crows, have been the chief victims of the virus, for reasons that 
scientists don't yet understand. The mortality rate for infected crows 
still is about 97 per cent, experts said yesterday. Raptors, blue jays, and 
other types of birds are also affected, as are horses. Zoos across the 
country have been especially alarmed by the virus because it has claimed 
several dozen captive birds at the Bronx Zoo in New York and at the 
Philadelphia Zoo. After infected crows were found on the grounds of the 
National Zoo last year, officials inoculated the zoo's zebras with an 
equine vaccine that had just been made available, zoo pathologist Donald 
Nichols said yesterday. A spokesperson for the Bronx Zoo said yesterday 
that the vaccine is being tested on penguins and flamingos there.

Residents can now report suspicious dead bird sightings to the state 
[Maryland] through the internet [], as 
well as over the state's dead bird hot line: 1-866-866-CROW. District 
residents can report suspicious dead birds to the West Nile Virus Call 
Center at 202-535-2323. Virginians who spot suspicious dead birds may call 
their county health department.

******
[2]
Date: Sat 18 May 2002
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Asbury Park Press, Sat 18 May 2002 [edited]
<http://www.app.com/app2001/story/0,21133,564619,00.html>


New Jersey: West Nile virus kills 3 crows in Monmouth County
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Monmouth County has become New Jersey's early-season leader in collecting 
dead crows that have tested positive for West Nile virus, the 
mosquito-borne virus that sometimes kills humans as well as birds. The head 
of the county's Mosquito Extermination Commission said yesterday that 3 
birds' carcasses found here have tested positive this year. Only one other 
positive result has been reported in New Jersey. That was in Morris County, 
said Douglas Guthrie Sr, superintendent for the mosquito commission.

The Shore area crows were found in Howell, Tinton Falls, and Ocean Township 
between 16 Apr and 3 May 2002. "The findings tend to be earlier this year 
than years past but we've not really figured out exactly why," Guthrie 
said. "There could be several factors. I think perhaps that mosquitoes are 
out earlier this year because we've had warmer weather. But also, this is 
the fourth year of dealing with West Nile virus and our surveillance is 
more refined. We're getting information sooner."

Last year in New Jersey, there were 12 confirmed cases of humans 
contracting the virus. State epidemiologist Dr Eddy Bresnitz said one of 
those infected, a 45 year old Carteret man whose identity was never 
disclosed, died in early October 2001.

Mosquitoes pick up the disease from infected birds, but the origin of the 
virus is unknown, officials have said. "Crows are certainly the best early 
indicator that the virus is present in an area. The fact that we have 3 WNV 
positive crows this early in the season certainly confirms that the virus 
is endemic and that it is here to stay," Guthrie said.

[Byline: Bob Jordon]

******
[3]
Date: 20 May 2002
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: New York Department of Health, West Nile Virus Update: 1 Jan - 16 
May 2002 [edited]
<http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/westnile/update/2002/today.htm>


New York: first West Nile virus positive dead bird reported
-----------------------------------------------------------
As of 16 May 2002 the Wadsworth Laboratory reported a positive result for 1 
dead bird (Albany 1). This is the first WNV positive bird for 2002 in New 
York State this year.

[As well as the summary List, this website provides access to a dead crow 
density list for 2002 (May 5 to May 11 2002; all counties low), and a map 
of WNV positive test results in GIF Image (50KB) and as a PDF file (203KB). 
- Mod.CP]

-- 
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[see also:
West Nile virus update 2002 - USA (02)               20020513.4195
West Nile virus update 2002 - USA (01)               20020506.4109
West Nile virus, predicted spread in 2002 - USA      20020109.3206
2001
---
West Nile virus surveillance 2001 - USA (NYC)        20011213.3017
West Nile virus surveillance 2001 - USA (34)         20011130.2914
West Nile virus surveillance - USA 2000 final report 20010423.0792
West Nile virus surveillance - USA                   20010129.0207]

.................mpp/cp/pg/sh

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