An update from ProMED


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Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus update 2002 - USA (19): non-human


>
> WEST NILE VIRUS UPDATE 2002 - USA (19): NON-HUMAN
> ***********************************************
> A ProMED-mail post
> <http://www.promedmail.org>
> ProMED-mail is a program of the
> International Society for Infectious Diseases
> <http://www.isid.org>
>
> [This update was prepared on Fri 30 Aug 2002 but got lost in cyberspace,
> hence the delay in posting. - Mod.JW]
>
> [Reports of human infection, infection of new hosts, extension of
> geographical range and events of special significance are posted
separately
> immediately on receipt. - Mod.CP]
>
> In these updates:
> [1] - [4] Equines (Indiana)
> [5] Equines (USDA-APHIS update, as of Mon 26 Aug 2002)
> [6] Raptors (several states, suspected)
> [7] - [8] Raptors (Ohio)
> [9] Zoo birds (Ohio)
> [10] Birds (New Hampshire)
> [11] Birds, Mosquitos, Llama (Massachusetts)
> [12] Mosquitoes (New Hampshire)
> [13] ERAP latest news (Tue 27 Aug 2002) & new resources
> [14] ArboNET report: USA, 21 to 27 Aug 2002; Illinois, 1 Jan to 27 Aug
2002
>
> ******
> [1]
> Date: Fri 23 Aug 2002
> From: Doug Metcalf <dmetcalf at boah.in.state.us>
> Source: Daily Citizen, Fri 23 Aug 2002 [edited]
>
>
> Indiana: Task Force of Veterinarians Trying to Uncover Problem
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> A task force of veterinarians was in Daviess County today, at the request
of
> Gov. Frank O'Bannon, to figure out why such a large number of horses have
> contracted West Nile virus. To date, all 6 Daviess County horses tested at
> animal health laboratories have been positive for the virus. So far, all
of
> the horses have been in the Amish community in the
> Odon-Montgomery-Cannellburg area. Brent Marsh, Indiana state veterinarian,
> recommended everyone taking the recommended precautions: vaccinate your
> horses, eliminate all standing water, wear protective clothing and use
> mosquito repellent with DEET.
>
> Odon veterinarian John Royal told The Daily Citizen this morning that
> between 35 and 50 horses "have either died or been euthanized, but we
don't
> know about all of them, some of the owners put them down themselves."
Royal
> estimates that about 250, minimum, are infected with West Nile virus, all
in
> the Amish community. Royal believes the virus, which is spread by
> mosquitoes, is so widespread in that area because "Amish typically do not
> vaccinate (against diseases) ... and a lot of them didn't know about West
> Nile virus infection." Royal has given about 3000 vaccinations against
West
> Nile virus in the last month. The vaccine must be given in muscle, and
must
> be followed up by a second shot between 3 and 6 weeks after the first. The
> horse is not fully protected from the virus until it has had the second
> shot. The disease is striking colts as young as 3 months, Royal noted, but
> is harder, sometimes fatal, to older horses. Not all horses that contract
> West Nile virus die.
>
> (Byline: Lana Robertson)
>
> ******
> [2]
> Date Fri 23 Aug 2002
> From: Doug Metcalf <dmetcalf at boah.in.state.us>
> Source: Washington Herald-Times, Fri 23 Aug 2002 [edited]
>
>
> Indiana: Task Force Seeks Answers to West Nile Virus Cluster in Daviess
> County
> ------------------------------------------------------
> On Thu 22 Aug 2002, Dr. Bret Marsh with the Indiana State Department of
> Health, said local veterinarians are now seeing the illness in horses
> outside the Amish community. Indiana has a horse population estimated at
160
> 000, and Daviess County is ranked fifth in equine population with an
> estimated population of around 5000.
>
> Lab results have confirmed that West Nile virus has killed about 50 horses
> locally last
> month. Dr. Marsh said about 200 horses have been reported ill in Daviess
> County and
> a fourth of them have died. "Our tests are new and the results are slow,"
> Dr. Marsh said of labs being swamped with samples of tissue and blood. Dr.
> Duane Murphy, who works at the Dubois County diagnostic lab, said some of
> the lesions being seen in horse autopsies indicate all the dead horses may
> not have died from the West Nile virus. Confirmation must come from labs
in
> Iowa and New York.
>
> (Byline: Linda Perry)
>
> *****
> [3]
> Date Fri 23 Aug 2002
> From: Doug Metcalf <dmetcalf at boah.in.state.us>
> Source: South Bend Tribune, Thu 22 Aug 2002 [edited]
>
>
> Indiana: West Nile spreads in Amish area
> ----------------------------------------
> State health officials confirmed this week that 2 of the dead horses had
> West Nile virus infections. That brings the statewide total to 8, said
> Denise Derrer, spokeswoman for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.
The
> other 6 are in Daviess County, a heavily Amish area in southwestern
Indiana.
> Millersburg and its surrounding area have a large Amish population, which
> generally shuns motorized vehicles. Losing horses could be a big problem.
> The animals pull plows on Amish farms and buggies on local roads, although
> Amish people also ride bicycles or are passengers in cars.
>
> A team of state veterinarians will travel today to Daviess County, which
has
> had 225 horses show signs of the illness.
>
> (Byline: Tim Logan)
>
> ******
> [4]
> Date: Mon 26 Aug 2002
> From: METCALF <DMETCALF at boah.state.in.us>
> Source: Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), Tue 26 Aug 2002
> [edited]
>
>
> Indiana: BOAH Update of Equine Cases of West Nile Virus Infection
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> As of 26 Aug 2002, 12 more horses have tested positive for the West Nile
> virus in Daviess County, Indiana. This brings the statewide total of
> confirmed cases in equine to 20. The distribution of cases to date is as
> follows: 18 positive equine in Daviess County; 2 positive equine in
Elkhart
> County.
>
> Other cases from throughout the state are still pending; exactly how many
is
> not known. Veterinary practitioners may choose to send test samples to a
> number of laboratories nationwide. They are not obligated to report sample
> submissions to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Therefore, until
a
> test result is known and reported by the lab, state animal health
officials
> cannot maintain a current count of pending tests. Updates to the number of
> confirmed positives will be reported as appropriate.
>
> Horses with confirmed exposure to the West Nile virus do not always die;
> many recover. As dead-end hosts, recovered horses pose no threat of
exposing
> humans or other animals. West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes, which
pick
> up the disease-causing organisms from infected birds.
>
> --
> D. Metcalf
> <DMETCALF at boah.state.in.us>
>
> ******
> [5]
> Date: Mon 26 Aug 2002
> From: ProMED-mail <promed at promedmail.org>
> Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant
Inspection
> Service, Update on the Current Status of West Nile Virus, as of Mon 26 Aug
> 2002 [edited]
> <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/wnv/wnvstats.html>
>
>
> Equine Cases of West Nile Virus Infection: 1 Jan through 26 Aug 2002
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Illness caused by West Nile virus (WNV) infection has been confirmed by
the
> USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in equines from 28
> states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana,
> Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,
> Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio,
> Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, &
> Wyoming.
>
> The total number of equine cases of WNV tested at the NVSL or reported by
> state officials so far this year is now 1424. The cases are from 29
states:
> Alabama (9), Arkansas (24), Colorado (7), Florida (39), Georgia (2),
> Illinois (62), Indiana (8), Iowa (24), Kansas (23), Kentucky (44),
Louisiana
> (172), Michigan (2), Minnesota (160), Mississippi (74), Missouri (94),
> Montana (3), Nebraska (189), New Jersey (3), New Mexico (2), New York (1),
> North Dakota (179), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (9), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota
> (175), Tennessee (8), Texas (99), Wisconsin (4), & Wyoming (5).
>
> *****
> [6]
> Date: Sun 25 Aug 2002
> From: ProMED-mail <promed at promedmail.org>
> Source: The Plain Dealer, Sun 25 Aug 2002 [edited]
>
<http://www.cleveland.com/ohio/plaindealer/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_sta
> ndard.xsl?/base/news/1030267854213220.xml>
>
>
> West Nile Virus Infection Affecting Birds of Prey
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Wildlife officials say they cannot conclusively blame the virus for the
wave
> of mortality, but of the 8 birds of prey that Ohio state health officials
> tested last week, 7 were positive for the virus. Ohio is the only state to
> report such a cluster of dead birds, although Michigan & Indiana late last
> week also reported small numbers of stricken raptors, said Kathryn
Converse,
> wildlife disease specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey. "We can't say
> what's happening to owls will happen to eagles," Converse said. "There may
> be different levels of susceptibility in different bird species." What has
> wildlife officials so worried is that the virus has been established in
New
> York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and other eastern states for more than 2
> years without killing raptors in such numbers, raising the question of
> whether the virus is mutating.
>
> The Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis.,
> examined 2 great horned owls from Ohio on Friday. Results are not due
until
> next week. Federal officials have also gotten reports of a dead bald eagle
> from North Dakota and 2 dead golden eagles in Missouri. All 3 were in
> captivity. At the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center in Bay Village, bird
> handlers on 15 Aug 2002 checked all 22 captive birds on display there, and
> every one was healthy and hardy. The next day, a great horned owl started
> getting sick. By 17 Aug 2002, it was convulsing and refusing to eat. On
> Thursday, the center had it euthanized. On Friday, the center put down a
> red-tailed hawk. The center also treats wild birds stricken by illness or
> injury, and over the last few weeks it has been getting birds daily,
> including about a half-dozen great horned owls last week, Newkirk said.
>
> The inundation of sick or starved-looking birds of prey is extraordinary,
> she said Friday, because prey is so plentiful in the summer that she
usually
> gets no calls about emaciated birds. But on 10 Aug 2002, she took in 2
great
> horned owls; within 2 days, the birds were showing severe neurological
> problems. "In the last 10 days, I've gotten more than a dozen calls --
great
> horned owls and red-tailed hawks -- and you usually get only one injured
owl
> a month," MacGillis said. 2 of her own birds -- an arctic snowy owl and a
> merlin falcon -- have keeled over since 16 Aug 2002, she said.
>
> As raptors die, Newkirk, too, fears what is in store for eagles and
ospreys,
> and the peregrine falcons that have virtually become the adopted children
of
> Cleveland, Akron and other cities where the birds nest in high-rises.
>
> (Byline: John C. Kuehner and Jim Nichols)
>
> ******
> [7]
> Date: Mon 26 Aug 2002
> From: Paul Kilduff plkldf at hotmail.com [edited]
>
>
> Statement from Back To the Wild Rehab Center
> -------------------------------------------
> This is an update on a wildlife crisis in Ohio hitting rehabilitation
> centers and zoos hard. It is statewide. In just 2 weeks, almost every
center
> in Ohio has experienced unheard of admissions of Great Horned Owls daily
> from the wild; plus Red-tails, Coopers and other raptor species. Most are
> Great Horned Owls and most all have head tremors and some with paralysis
of
> the legs. Many are dying quickly, within 48 hours, though a few seem to be
> recovering. Most are found standing or laying on the ground, unaware of
> their surroundings and allow you to just pick them up. A few are
recovering.
>
> Most centers have lost Education Birds that have been at our centers for
10
> or more years. They die overnight, without warning. Rehabbers are
> devastated. I have lost 4 caged birds here, and fear for the Bald Eagles
and
> other raptors at our center.
>
> Another rehab program lost their Snowy Owl and Merlin and most centers
have
> lost Barreds, Great Horneds, Red-tails and Kestrels. Several Falconers
have
> lost Gyrfalcons. One center sent in 2 Great Horned Owls and 1 Red-tail and
> all 3 tested positive for West Nile [virus].
>
> The advice from Federal and State agencies is to put mosquito netting over
> all our cages! Absolutely impossible! Some of the cages are over 60 to 100
> feet long and 16 feet high. How can you mosquito proof that?!
>
> --
> Paul Kilduff
> Ohio, USA
> <plkldf at hotmail.com>
>
> [It would appear there is evidence to strongly suspect West Nile virus.
As
> the virus moves westward, different species from those in the East may
> become infected. - Mod.TG]
>
> ******
> [8]
> Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2002 21:55:26 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Jonathan Nash <jnash at qis.net>
> Source: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Fri 23 Aug 2002 [edited]
> <http://ohiodnr.com/news/aug02/0823sickbirds.htm>
>
>
> Between 100 and 150 sick and dying raptors, mostly owls and hawks, have
been
> reported statewide within the past several days. Initial testing has been
> completed on several of the birds and some have tested positive for West
> Nile virus. The National Wildlife Center in Madison, Wisconsin is
currently
> testing some of the birds to determine the actual cause of death. Many
> species of birds can carry West Nile virus without showing any symptoms,
and
> West Nile virus is not necessarily fatal to all birds.
>
> According to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), people cannot contract
> West Nile virus from birds. The disease can only be transmitted to humans
> through the bite of an infected mosquito. "But, at this point, we don't
know
> what is killing the birds, and
> that's another reason for people to not handle them," said ODH.
>
> Anyone finding a sick or dead raptor can report the discovery to a local
> raptor rehabilitation center or through the ODNR web site at
<Ohiodnr.com>.
> [But] the ODNR Division of Wildlife indicated there is no need for
> additional collection of dead or dying hawks and owls, enough of the birds
> have been collected to allow for accurate testing. The agency will
> distribute further information when testing has been completed. Test
results
> from Wisconsin are expected within the next several days. ODH recommends
> that dead birds should only be handled with rubber gloves.
>
> --
> ProMED-mail
> <promed at promedmail.org>
>
> *****
> [9]
> Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 23:42:43 -0400
> From: Abramo Ottolenghi <ottolenghi.1 at osu.edu>
> Source: Columbus Dispatch 31 Aug 2002
>
>
> The Columbus Zoo [Ohio] has reported the death of a red-tailed hawk due to
> West Nile virus infection. A flamingo and 3 black -footed penguins are
> displaying signs of the illness. In addition 2 flamingos and an Andean
> Condor have tested positive for the virus.
>
> --
> Abramo Ottolenghi, PhD
> The Ohio State University
> Columbus, Ohio 43210
> <ottolenghi.1 at osu.edu>
>
> ******
> [10]
> Date: Thu 29 Aug 2002
> From: ProMED-mail <promed at promedmail.org>
> Source; New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, press
> release, Tue 27 Aug 2002 [edited]
> <http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/PIO/LIBRARY/Press+Release/WNV.htm>
>
>
> New Hampshire: 26 Birds Reported West Nile Virus-positive
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> State health officials announce that West Nile virus has been found in 2
> towns that have not previously submitted birds infected with the disease.
A
> Cooper's Hawk from the town of Northwood -- in the area of Jenness pond --
> and a blue-jay from the town of Surry in the southwestern area of the
state
> were both collected on Fri 23 Aug 2002 and submitted to the Public Health
> Laboratories for testing. "We have found evidence of the virus in 24 birds
> so far this season," says Dr. Jose Montero, chief of the Bureau of
> Communicable Disease Control. "What is notable, however, is that the
> blue-jay from Surry is the westernmost confirmation of West Nile Virus in
> our state."
>
> In New Hampshire, birds testing positive for the disease have been
received
> from the communities of Bow, Concord, Goffstown, Hudson, Kingston,
Laconia,
> Manchester, Milford, and Nashua. A total of 261 birds have been submitted
> and tested at the Public Health Laboratories since 28 May 2002. Of those,
24
> have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The virus has not yet been
> detected in humans or in other animals in New Hampshire.
>
> --
> ProMED-mail
> promed at promedmail.org
>
> ******
>
> [11]
> Date: Wed 28 Aug 2002
> From: Chelle Rogers <castalia at rockisland.com>
> Source: Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health, West Nile virus update, 1
> Jan - 27 Aug 2002 [edited]
> <http://db.state.ma.us/dph/wnile/>
>
>
> Massachusetts: One West Nile Virus-positive Llama
> -------------------------------------------------
> West Nile Virus Update; 1 Jan - 27 Aug 2002
>
> Birds:
> Dead Birds reported - 5086
> Birds submitted for testing - 515
> Birds tested - 450
> Birds West Nile virus-positive - 224
>
> Mosquitoes:
> Mosquito pools West Nile virus-positive - 14
>
> Horses:
> Horses West Nile virus-positive - nil
>
> Othe species:
> One West Nile virus-positive Llama
>
> --
> Chelle Rogers
> USA
> <castalia at rockisland.com>
>
> [The vaccine for horses was tested in llamas and found to be effective at
> the equine dose. Llama owners and breeders are using the vaccine in some
> states. - Mod.TG]
>
> ******
> [12]
> Date: Thu 29 Aug 2002
> From: ProMED-mail <promed at promedmail.org>
> Source: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, press
> release, Fri 23 Aug 2002 [edited]
>
<http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/NR/exeres/B2344CD0-7E46-423E-87F1-8B69CEA90F56.
> htm>
>
>
> New Hampshire: 2 Pools of Mosquitoes Confirmed West Nile Virus-positive
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> State health officials confirm that West Nile Virus has been found in 2
> mosquito pools from traps in Manchester. This event is the first
> confirmation of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes in New Hampshire during the
> 2002 season.
>
> The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services' Office of
> Community and Public Health has been testing mosquitoes from traps in 12
> communities as part of a statewide surveillance program. The virus has not
> yet been detected in humans or in other animals in New Hampshire.
>
> --
> ProMED-mail
> <promed at promedmail.org>
>
> ******
> [13]
> Date: Tue 27 Aug 2002
> From: Lois Levitan <LCL3 at cornell.edu>
> Source: Environmental Risk Analysis Program, Cornell University, Center
for
> the Environment, West Nile Virus Latest News, Tue 27 Aug 2002 [edited]
> <http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/erap/WNV/>
>
>
> West Nile virus Latest News - As of Tue 27 Aug 2002
> ---------------------------------------------------
> West Nile virus has passed the 108th meridian on its trek west, now
detected
> as far west as Shepherd in Yellowstone County, Montana. Thus far in 2002,
> West Nile virus has been detected in birds, mosquitoes, humans, horses
> and/or other mammals in at least 41 states
> and Washington DC in the US; as well as in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and
> Saskatchewan provinces in Canada; and in people and mosquitoes in Israel.
It
> has been most recently reported for the first time from New Mexico and
> Montana (22 Aug 2002), Colorado & Wyoming (16 Aug 2002), South Carolina
(13
> Aug 2002), and from Vermont, for the first time since 2000 (6 Aug 2002).
>
> Its range has expanded in each of the 4 years since the initial North
> American outbreak in 1999, and has expanded considerably in 2002; now
> detected in 13 states where it had not previously been seen (Colorado,
> Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
> South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming). In the
> Continental US only the 7 westernmost states have not reported the
presence
> of West Nile virus.
>
> New Resources: Mosquito Hygiene throughout the Life Cycle of _Culex_
> Mosquitoes (2nd ed.) has just been released. It is a full-color 11 x 17
> poster showing what _Culex_ mosquitoes look like at each stage of
> development (egg, larva, pupa and adult) and providing practical
information
> about mosquito control at each life stage.
>
> --
> Lois Levitan, PhD Program Leader
> Environmental Risk Analysis Program
> Center for the Environment
> Cornell University
> Ithaca, New York USA 14853-5601
> <LCL3 at cornell.edu>
>
> ******
> [14]
> Date: Thu 29 Aug 2002 [preview]
> From: ProMED-mail <promed at promedmail.org>
> Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, West Nile Virus Activity, Fri 30
Aug
> 2002, 51(34); 764-766 [edited]
> <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5134a4.htm>
>
>
> (1) West Nile Virus Activity; United States, Wed 21 to Tue 27 Aug 2002
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> This report summarizes West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance data reported to
> CDC through ArboNET and by states and other jurisdictions as of 7:30 a.m.
> Mountain Daylight Time, Wed 28 Aug 2002, and highlights WNV activity in
> Illinois.
>
> During the reporting period of 21 to 28 Aug 2002, WNV infections were
> reported in 674 dead crows, 305 other dead birds, 581 horses, and 386
> mosquito pools. During this period, WNV activity was reported for the
first
> time ever in Montana and New Mexico.
>
> In addition, during 2002, 2590 dead crows and 1872 other dead birds with
WNV
> infection were reported from 41 states, New York City, and the District of
> Columbia; 837 WNV infections in mammals (all but one in horses) have been
> reported from 25 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia,
> Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi,
> Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,
South
> Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming).
>
> During 2002, WNV seroconversions have been reported in 96 sentinel chicken
> flocks from Florida, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and New York City; 1491
> WNV-positive mosquito pools have been reported from 18 states (Alabama,
> Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland,
Massachusetts,
> Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
> Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia), New York City, and the
> District of Columbia.
>
> [It is interesting that sentinel chickens, that seem to have mainly failed
> to detect WNV in previous years, are apparently being more effective this
> time around. I wonder what has changed? - Mod.JW]
>
>
> (2) Illinois: 1 Jan to Tue 27 Aug 2002
> ----------------------------------
> In 2002, of the 102 counties of Illinois, 92 (90 %) have reported WNV
> activity (positive animal, mosquito, or human cases). Of the 709 crows and
> blue jays tested, 439 (62%) have tested positive for WNV by the
> immunohistochemistry test; the first bird tested positive on 15 May 2002.
62
> horses have tested laboratory positive. These horses had
> specimens collected during the period 19 Jul - 23 Aug 2002 from 18
counties.
> Mosquito pools began testing positive on 11 Jul 2002, and 236 mosquito
pools
> have been reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as
> positive through 16 Aug 2002.
>
> Additional information about WNV activity is available at
> <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm> and
> <http://cindi.usgs.gov/hazard/event/west_nile/west_nile.html>.
>
> --
> ProMED-mail
> <promed at promedmail.org>
>
> [see also:
> West Nile virus - USA 2001: final report 20020613.4491
> West Nile virus, predicted spread in 2002 - USA 20020109.3206
> West Nile virus update 2002 - USA (01) 20020506.4109
> West Nile virus update 2002 - USA (18): human 20020901.5212
> 2001
> ----
> West Nile virus surveillance - USA 2000 final report 20010423.0792
> West Nile virus surveillance - USA 20010129.0207
> West Nile virus surveillance 2001 - USA (34) 20011130.2914]
> ................................tg/mpp/cp/jw
>
>
>
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