West Nile Virus in California!

Associated Press ^ | 9-6-02 | Andrew Bridges

[xJones]

Tell others that if they see dead birds, report it to public health and then let the county run the post-mortem on the birds.

I'll be glad to bump this thread. Thank you. I live in northern Texas and have not noticed dead birds lying around, but if I do find any, I'll certainly be careful now to report the to local health agencies. And I'll pass the word to friends and relatives.

Also, this has been a strange summer. Flies and mosquitoes are way down. It's been years since I've seen a frog hopping around, and there's been less birds this year (but the birds aren't dying all around, there's just fewer of them for some unknown reason).

[FITZ]

Almost all of the positive birds were found singly and not as part of a mass die-off in a single time and place.

<Maybe just the weaker and elderly birds are dying just like with humans. The trauma to the birds probably happens when they fall off a branch when they die.

[Cachelot]

Approx. a third of positive birds had signs of trauma on necropsy.

What kind of trauma, exactly? Anything consistent with having been caught and let loose again?

[snopercod]

Speaking as a devil's advocate, could the war have skewed teh 1941 data?

[snopercod]

teh=the.

Also, the two counties on either side of me have reported birds dead of WNV. Come on winter!!!

[Carry_Okie]

Speaking as a devil's advocate, could the war have skewed the 1941 data?

Doubtful. The "counts per observer" would likely be higher in 1941 as a result (fewer, more dedicated observers, more opportuities each). Remember also that count was taken immediately after Pearl Harbor (the count is currently taken from December 14 to January 5).

[bonesmccoy]

I don't know what CDC was intending to convey by using the term "trauma on necropsy".

I don't know about you, but it starts to give me the "willys" (and not the "slick" one either)!

If anyone around here wants to know why we need to have more guys like Hackworth around to "convey a sense of urgency", just look at the dead from West Nile and think if Saddam releases smallpox now.

[bonesmccoy]

yeah, you're right. I'm not sure what the criteria is either. However, they're keeping the thread up now. Hope Freepers around the West Coast can keep an eye out for any dead birds (road kill or not). If you find one, tell Public Health so they can get the bird and test it.