Subject: Followup on WNV
Date: Sep 20 14:04:59 2002
From: mapste - mapste at coastaccess.com


Thank you to everyone who responded to my question on whether birdfeeders and well maintained birdbaths are a risk factor for WNV. The answers, as I expected, were a unanimous, resounding "NO." These responses were not only from helpful tweeters responders. The Seattle Audubon Society, the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington State Department of Health all stated that birdfeeders are no risk, and birdbaths that are cleaned and changed twice a week do not allow mosquito breeding.

In addition, I have a printout from the Centers for Disease Control FAQ "West Nile Virus and Birds" (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/wnv_birds.htm) that specifically addresses these two issues, again stating neither are a risk. Unfortunately, my printout is from a FAQ updated 9/5/2002, and what is now online is a FAQ updated 8/29/2002 which did not have these two questions on it. Perhaps they will reappear later.

Marlene Penry
Ocean Shores, WA
mapste at coastaccess.com