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To: FairOpinion
I realize this is an 'MPOX' thread, but I've got one nice cite titled in part: "Pathology of Fatal West Nile Virus Infections ..."

Acessable from this web page: wcs.org/home/science/wildlifehealthscience/2592/2606/

Or directly here http://wcs.org/media/general/mime-9766395601.pdf

Full Title:

Pathology of Fatal West Nile Virus Infections in Native and Exotic Birds during the 1999 Outbreak in New York City, New York

Excerpt:

During the late summer and early fall of 1999, an outbreak of viral encephalitis occurred in the northeastern United States, with most cases occurring in and around New York City, New York. The outbreak resulted in fatal neurologic disease in humans and a variety of native and exotic birds, (3–5) as well as some horses.17 The incidence of disease was particularly high among crows. Initially, the human cases were attributed to St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus,3 a mosquito- borne flavivirus that is endemic to the United States. SLE virus typically does not cause clinical disease in birds.

Later, West Nile virus (WNV), a related flavivirus never before identified in the western hemisphere, was shown to be the cause of disease in several birds that died following neurologic illness. (5,12) WNV was subsequently identified as the cause of infection in both the human (5) and equine (17) cases as well. Phylogenetic analysis of the virus associated with the US outbreak, WN-New York 1999, demonstrated it is closely related to a strain of WNV isolated from a sick goose in Israel in 1998. (12) Confirmed human and equine cases of WNV infection have been limited to the state of New York; however, infected birds and mosquitoes were also identified in Connecticut and New Jersey during the height of the outbreak.1,5 The possible recurrence and spread of WNV in the United States represents a serious potential public health concern.

...

Case histories

Between 10 August 1999 and 23 September 1999, 27 wild or exotic birds (24 birds at the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Park, Bronx, NY, and 3 birds at the Queens Wildlife Center, Queens, NY) died or were humanely euthanatized because of severe illness. Eight orders and 14 species of birds were involved.

Warning: This is an extensive report - if you want details on the 'Bronz Zoo' aspect of WNV this is it ...
56 posted on 06/10/2003 6:13:58 PM PDT by _Jim
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To: _Jim
Hi Jim,
I'm with you, sort of. I don't think these never before seen in the US diseases are the work of terrorists. However, I do not dismiss the possibility, no matter how far fetched. It's probably much worse (for some) than that.
60 posted on 06/10/2003 6:38:41 PM PDT by IYAAYAS (Live free or die trying)
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