Posted on 05/21/2002 6:29:34 AM PDT by areafiftyone
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Five dead crows found in two counties are the first to test positive this year for the West Nile virus, according to state health officials.
The first crow was found in Monmouth County on April 16, and the next was found the following day in the Morris County town of Lincoln Park, officials said Monday. Three more were found in Monmouth County between April 18 and May 13.
Last year, the first infected bird was found in Upper Saddle River on April 30. Dennis McGowan, a Health Department spokesman, said the earlier appearance of the virus this year is likely due to the mild winter temperatures and an early spring.
West Nile spreads when mosquitoes feed on infected birds. In most cases it causes only minor infection in people, but some can develop meningitis or encephalitis.
Most of those who are infected survive, but mortality is higher among the elderly or others with deficient immune systems.
Oops ! Sorry !
I forgot ol' Jimmah Cahtah done checked you-uns out, 'n found no ev-i-dense of Cuban bio-warfare.
Just for the record, a lot of our raptors ( marsh hawks, red-tails, sharpshins, etc. ) seem to be missing this season. They're vulnerable to the same virus.
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