AU Surveillance Program:

West Nile Virus detected in Georgia hawk

Raptors, or birds of prey, that die at the center are routinely examined for diseases and other factors such as environmental contaminants. The West Nile Virus surveillance program, started the summer of 2000, is a joint effort between the AU raptor center, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and the Alabama Department of Public Health.

“It was designed to detect the virus when it moved south,” said Dr. Timothy Boosinger, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, where the raptor center is located. “The risk factor to humans through this infected hawk is very minimal, almost non-existent, because the virus is a mosquito-to-human and mosquito-to-bird transmission.”

The West Nile Virus, a newly introduced virus to the Western Hemisphere, had mostly been isolated in the northeastern United States during the last two years, according to Dr. Fred Hoerr, director of the State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Auburn. He says no cases have been found in Alabama.

“We haven’t observed any evidence here, but we are actively investigating wild bird mortality,” Dr. Hoerr said.

Most human infections, while rare, are mild and the symptoms include fever, headache and body aches, often with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. It mostly affects immune-compromised people, the elderly, animals such as horses and it is almost always fatal to infected birds. In extremely rare cases, it can cause fatal encephalitis in humans.

The infected bird at Auburn was a Cooper’s Hawk brought to the raptor center from DeKalb County, Ga.

“It came here on June 23 and died later that day,” said Joe Shelnutt, director of the center. “The virus was detected during the routine surveillance procedures by our personnel and Dr. Hoerr. We received confirmation today from the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis., where we sent tissues for re-examination.”

Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Charles Bishop announced the confirmation Friday afternoon and encourages residents to report any dead birds, especially crows, which are more commonly affected. Anyone who is aware of wild bird deaths should contact the Department of Agriculture and Industries at (334) 240 7255; the Alabama Department of Public Health at (334) 206-5969; or the USDA Wildlife Services at (334) 844-9244.

The public should take steps to decrease their risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, such as eliminating standing water around their home where mosquitoes breed and taking personal mosquito protection measures. This would include installing or repairing screens, avoiding likely mosquito habitats, especially between the hours of dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are active and feeding, choosing clothing that provides maximum protection against biting insects and considering the use of an insect repellent.