title: Dead bird surveillance as an early warning system for West Nile virus.
abstract: As part of West Nile (WN) virus surveillance in New York State in 2000, 71,332 ill or dead birds were reported; 17,571 (24.6%) of these were American Crows. Of 3,976 dead birds tested, 1,263 (31.8%) were positive for WN virus. Viral activity was first confirmed in 60 of the state's 62 counties with WN virus-positive dead birds. Pathologic findings compatible with WN virus were seen in 1,576 birds (39.6% of those tested), of which 832 (52.8%) were positive for WN virus. Dead crow reports preceded confirmation of viral activity by several months, and WN virus-positive birds were found >3 months before the onset of human cases. Dead bird surveillance appears to be valuable for early detection of WN virus and for guiding public education and mosquito control efforts.
authors.affiliation: Zoonoses Program, New York State Department of Health, Rm. 621 ESP Corning Tower, Albany, NY 12237, USA. mxe04@health.state.ny.us
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eidson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary*; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*