- A dead crow found in Vale has tested positive for West
Nile virus, public health officials in Malheur County, and the Oregon Department
of Human Services (DHS), confirmed today [13 Aug 2004]. The testing was
conducted at Oregon State University's Veterinarian Diagnostic Laboratory.
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- This is the state's 1st sign of the virus, which was
introduced to the United States in 1999. "We've been expecting West
Nile virus to appear in Oregon at any time, so this is not a surprise,"
said Mel Kohn MD, state epidemiologist in DHS. "This does not necessarily
mean that we expect to see human cases any time soon. But it does mean
that people need to be sure they are taking precautions against mosquitoes."
The best defense against West Nile virus is for individuals to protect
themselves from mosquito bites, Kohn says. West Nile virus is an infection
that [is maintained] in birds. It is spread when a mosquito feeds on an
infected bird and then bites a human. Birds cannot transmit the disease
to humans, nor can it be transmitted through person to person contact,
according to Kohn.
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- Oregon officials have been monitoring mosquitoes and
birds for the appearance of West Nile virus since 2001. Vector control
districts throughout the state routinely collect mosquito specimens and
maintain flocks of sentinel chickens, both of which are tested regularly
by the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory in Portland.
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- "This announcement of an infected bird will undoubtedly
cause people to be concerned if they find a dead bird," Kohn says.
"We are testing only dead crows, jays, ravens, and magpies, and they
must be dead for less than 24 hours." If people find a dead bird,
and are concerned about what to do with it, they should report it to their
local health department or vector control agency, according to Kohn.
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- http://www.dhs.state.or.us/news/2004news/2004-0813.html
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- ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
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- [With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, Oregon is the
last of the states to confirm isolation of West Nile virus. West Nile virus
can now be considered to be endemic/enzootic throughout the USA. - Mod.CP]
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- Patricia A. Doyle, PhD Please visit my "Emerging
Diseases" message board at: http://www.clickitnews.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?
Cat=&Board=emergingdiseases
Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
Go with God and in Good Health
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