Subject: [Tweeters]West Nile Virus
Date: May 24 14:51:21 2005
From: Harry Thomas - samohteh at icehouse.net


I am new to Tweeters so if this subject has been covered before, you must
excuse me. In a recent phone call with my brother who lives in Hayward, CA
by SF Bay he commented that West Nile had reached CA. In some of the
research I have been doing since I found that the CDC West Nile page said
that over 200 species were known to be infected with West Nile. WA is the
only state in the lower 48 that doesn't have any human cases so far, but the
time is fast approaching when that will not be the case. Since some
migration is in the North-South corridor, then we must expect it to arrive
in WA, if not this year, in the near future. According to the CDC
transmission is by being bitten by infected mosquitoes which are themselves
infected by biting infected birds. So I figure now is the time for all
birders to get used to using mosquito repellant, especially if you frequent
areas where birds are in large numbers. CDC also suggests that you take
steps to mosquito proof your home.

Although the CDC said that many people are infected and recover and show no
ill effects, the possiblity still exists of getting a type of encephalitus
or brain infection and can be very serious indeed. So extreme care is
warranted.

If the hyperlinks above do not transfer to Tweeters, they are

CDC West Nile Page http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm
List of over 200 species of birds know to be affected
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/birdspecies.htm

Harry Thomas
samohteh at icehouse.net