Report Dead Birds and Suspected Equine
West Nile Virus Cases to Proper State Agencies

Writer: Edith A. Chenault, (979) 845-2886, e-chenault1@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Bruce Lawhorn, (979) 845-3230, Blawhorn@cvm.tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – Dead birds, particularly blue jays, crows and hawks, or suspected equine cases of West Nile virus infection need to be reported to the proper state agencies, said Dr. Bruce Lawhorn, who is a veterinarian with Texas Cooperative Extension and the department of large animal medicine and surgery at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University.

Dead  birds should be reported to the Texas Department of Health regional zoonosis control offices. A list of those offices
is at the end of this news release.

“It's important that all cases and suspected cases of the encephalitis be reported, so the spread of this new disease throughout our state can be tracked,” added Lawhorn.

“Health officials need to know to be on the lookout for this disease, especially if and when it is diagnosed in humans,”
Lawhorn said.

Migrating birds are the primary source of the virus, which is transmitted by mosquitos to other birds, animals in the equine family, or people.

According to the Texas Department of Health (TDH) web site, when you call, the technician will ask your name, telephone number, zip code and the location of the dead bird. Also, you will be asked about the number of dead birds and the species.
This information is needed to map the location and the spread of West Nile in Texas.

Whether the dead bird or birds is tested depends on several factors: your location in the state, the bird's species, its condition
and whether enough birds from your county already have been tested.

The only domestic animals that seems to be adversely affected by West Nile virus are equines. If you suspect your horse, donkey or mule has West Nile virus infection, contact your veterinarian for a diagnosis.  Veterinarians will take the appropriate samples for laboratory testings and confirmation and contact the Texas Animal Health Commission at (800) 550-8242 or
(512) 916-5552 to alert them of a possible West Nile virus case.

West Nile virus is commonly found in Africa, eastern Europe, West Asia and the Middle East.

West Nile virus was first reported in Texas in mid-June, having been found in two dead blue jays in Harris County.
No human cases have been reported in the state. The first human case of West Nile virus occurred in New York in 1999.

According to the TDH, most people who are infected with West Nile virus show no symptoms. Those who do typically develop mild symptoms of disease, including fever, headache, body aches and skin rashes. Less than 1 percent of those infected with West Nile virus will develop more severe symptoms that include meningitis or encephalitis, an infection of the brain.
Death can result.

Only one equine case has been identified in Texas thus far, Lawhorn said. Equines seem to be a dead-end host, and there is a vaccine available from veterinarians. Two doses of vaccine are administered three to six weeks apart, and protection starts to build at four to six weeks after the second vaccination.

“That means there is a minimum of seven to eight weeks after the start of the vaccine series before any protection can be expected,” Lawhorn said.

Much like humans, most infected equines will not show clinical signs. The most frequent clinical signs, though, are a wobbly
gait, stumbling and falling, weakness of limbs, recumbency (lying down), muscle fasciculation (fine muscle movements or twitching of a small area of muscle) and death.

Minimizing mosquito exposure is especially important while a horse is building immunity to vaccination, Lawhorn explained.

Dr. Jim Olson, Texas A&M University entomologist, said to reduce the chance of getting the disease, Texans should practice personal precaution, premise clean-up and mosquito-proofing of homes.

“The first thing people need to do is get rid of all the mosquito breeding sites they can find,” Olson said. “Anything that
is collecting and holding water for longer than three days needs to be either filled in, thrown away, turned upside down,
or whatever.”

Dog bowls and dishes under flowerpots should be emptied at least every three days. Or, if you are trying to save water,
Olson says, put a top or a screen wire across the container to keep mosquitos from getting in it to breed and lay eggs.

To prevent mosquitos from getting inside your home, make sure screen window frames fit up tight against the windowsills,
or fill in gaps with duct tape. Also, make sure there is weather stripping around doors. The use of yellow outside lighting will
also reduce the attractiveness of premises for mosquitos.

“Make sure when (doors) are closed, they don't allow gaps for mosquitos to get through -- because they will,” Olson said.
When going outdoors, do so during the brighter times of the day and stay away from shadows and wooded areas.
However, if you must go out during the evening hours, wear protective clothing and a repellant of your choice.
 
If bitten by mosquitos, Olson said, you should not be too concerned if the bites are infrequent. In order to prevent a secondary infection though, don't scratch the bites. “Put some type of antibacterial ointment on it, and otherwise watch it in case it does become infected,” he said. “But most times, within two or three days, they're down and gone.”

TDH regions are included on its Web site (http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/brlho/regions.htm).

Regional telephone numbers for reporting dead birds are:
 Region 1, Canyon, (806) 655-7151
 Region 2 and 3, Arlington, (817) 264-4920
 Region 4 and 5 North, Tyler, (903) 533-5212
 Region 5 South and 6, Houston, (713) 767-3300
 Region 7, Temple, (254) 778-6744
 Region 8, Uvalde, (830) 278-7173
 Regions 9 and 10, El Paso, (915) 834-7781
 Region 11, Harlingen, (956) 444-3224

The main TDH telephone number in Austin is (512) 458-7255. More information about West Nile virus is on the TDH Web page ( http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/zoonosis/arbo ).