Okay,
I live in Texas, Dallas to be exact, and we've been having problems with mosquitoes carrying some new sort of virus.... has something to do with the word Nile.....
Anyhow, it is apparently bad news, and it is killing birds here in the area, There have already been two birds found to have died from the virus. I'm assuming it is contagious to humans as well as it is all over the news down here.
Infact, on the news last night, There was a special report asking the general public to save dead birds that they may find and turn into the city. They specifically listed Crows, Blue jays, and Hawks. We were instructed to wear rubber gloves and place the carcass in a baggie and double bag it and then freeze it and call the city and they would come pick it up.
So is it still a federal crime to possess these birds? And has anyone informed the city of Dallas to this, or is this one time in all of creation that one would be allowed to posses a hawk in his freezer?
Second question? If this virus is so bad, I mean, we are getting warnings to stay indoors and always wear bug repellant, is it something as a taxidermist that we should worry about contracting form speciems that we may work on in the upcoming hunting seasons? I mean assuming it is contagious to humans, then I would have to assume it is hazardous to other mammals such as deer and anyting else that may be hunted.....and if so, how can we protect ourselves from this? Does the virus die when frozen?
Does anyone have any other information on this?
Thanks and heads up if you didn't already know.
Jon
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the West Nile Virus is spread from infected birds to humans and horses through mosquitoes. You cannot get the disease by just handling an infected animal. The mosquito is the transmitter by biting you and basically injecting the virus into your bloodstream. No human cases of the West Nile Fever have been recorded here in Texas. It may however only be a matter of time before this happens due to the heavy rains in recent days and the increase in mosquito population. The most vulnerable to the disease will be eldery and people in poor health and very small children. I agree with you that wearing bug repellent and trying to stay indoors especially during the evening hours and at night is a good idea, but I would not get overly concerned about it either at this point.
West Nile Virus was introduced into this country thanks to the global marketplace. It is vectored by mosquitoes and does pose a risk to all people, including taxidermists. This one is expecially weird in that your general health and age have a lot to do with your reaction to the disease. If you're young and full of piss and vinegar, the disease usually manifests itself as a low grade fever, upset stomach, and a runny nose for a few days. Done deal. If you are in between the infant and the aged/infirmed, the disease has varying degrees of severity. Those two ENDS, however, have a very tough time and the disease can be fatal.
Keeping and bagging the species of birds requested is just a common sense item to everyone, including the authorities. After all, no one BUT taxidermists seem concerned about "possession" anyway, now do they?
Delaware was one of the first states effected and significant measures have been taken from a government standpoint. We are particularly infested with salt marsh mosquitoes anyway and the residents already know how to take precautions when mosquito time is near. The media likes creating catastrophies anyway. Just use that commodity that's not so common anymore: Common Sense.
Its old news here in NJ . We've have the virus here for about 3 years now and I think a few people have died from it . Wait until Lyme disease gets to you .
Jus makes sense to use gloves or something to protect yourself should you happen to have to pick up one of the birds.
Yes it is still illegal for the Bluejays, hawks and owls. Over the pst three years three Boad and one Golden Eagle have died from WNV. in Arkansas it all happened during the winter months.
THere are vaccines for horse available, FT, Dodge is working on one for cats and dogs. Beleive it or not the poultry industry could be the worst hurt by either virus.
If you wish to keep abreast of developments in any number of the various infectious diseases I would recommend bookmarking the Pro-med website at http://www.promedmail.org/pls/askus/f?p=2400:1000
It is maintained by the International Society for Infectious Diseases and has regular updates on West Nile, Rabies, Anthrax, BSE, etc. and maintains archives and a search engine for past postings. The Texas outbreak was mentioned at http://www.promedmail.org/pls/askus/f?p=2400:1001:290675::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,18753
The instructions are to cover the bird, or pick it up, using precautions, and bag and hold the bird for authorities who will either test the bird locally or send it to the CDC for testing. The instructions for collection of the dead birds are issued by the CDC and is a mandate approved by the USFWS.
You are serving your fellow man and not breaking the law when you recover and turn in found dead birds - especially corvus (crows and bluejays). The crows and bluejays, for some reason, seem to be much less tolerant of the West Nile Virus than are other wild birds. By way of this intolerance, their carcasses have become visual evidence of the extending range of the West Nile Virus.
It is not illegal to pick up the found dead birds for the purpose of scientific research, pursuant to public health bulletins containing the instructions. This supercedes CFR 50 and MBTA restrictions - BUT ONLY for the medical research purposes.
The use of rubber gloves is recommended, since there is no prima facie evidence that body fluids of infected species can or can not transmit the disease. The strangest fact about the West Nile is that it appeared in Israel and the Eastern US at the same time. (Terrorism?)It is native to Southern Egypt and the Nile Valley, and has been around for years.
So, to answer your question, it is legal to collect and hold the birds for research purposes - and for no other reason, except established USFWS procedures. Birds are the perfect vector for the virus. Crows and many other species are migratory by habit and thereby range over wide regions, causing rapid spread of the disease. It is very unlike Lyme's disease in nature and effects. West Nile is a virus, Lyme's disease is a rikketseal. It also differs from anthrax and tuleremia and CWD by way of vector, causative organism and seriousness. It is no more dangerous than many common flu strains where healthy individuals are concerned.
Thanks for the info guys.
Jon