I would guess all of us cringe at the thought of any birds (well maybe not Starlings!) stricken down by WNV, and by "Silent Spring" scenarios from mosquito spraying. It doesn't seem like there is much we can do about our bird populations, as they could be decimated by either the disease or the spraying or both. This is a very sad, helpless feeling when you are a person who doesn't just see birds as "indicator species" of WNV for human concerns.

One of the responses I got from Fish & Wildlife said that we have to control the panic over this disease, which the media is making very difficult as they announce every human contagion or death, keeping it in the news all the time. I noted some statistics from the websites I've been reading and it seems the likelihood of a person dying from a mosquito bite is extremely small. (Don't quote me, I may not remember every number, see www.cdc.gov if interested.) Only a small number of people are likely to be bitten by an infected mosquito. Only 20% of those bitten will have ANY sign of illness. Less than 1% of those who get ill will get the severe form of the virus and be hospitalized; the rest will suffer short-term flu-like symptoms. Less than 25% of those hospitalized will die from it. Although every death is a tragedy to someone, these numbers are sounding pretty small to me, not a national epidemic to panic over. But then I have been accused of being cold and scientific sometimes!

So mainly, I'm worried about the birds and what we can do for them. Am I right, is the answer "Nothing"?