WNV & EEE in Horses, Birds in Baton Rouge, Louisian

<x-flowed>Forwarded from ProMED-Mail <http://www.promedmail.org>, a program
of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>:

Source: The Advocate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tue 2 Apr 2002,
byline: John Mcmillan [edited by ProMED]
<http://www.theadvocate.com/news/story.asp?StoryID=28905>

WEST NILE VIRUS & EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS IN BIRDS & HORSES IN
BATON ROUGE, LA

Eastern equine encephalitis virus and West Nile virus have been found
in and near Baton Rouge already this year, according to the East
Baton Rouge Director of Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control. In the
most recent case, results from blood tests from a bird trapped near
the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport tested positive for the Eastern
equine encephalitis virus on Mon 1 Apr 2002, said Matt Yates,
Director of the Mosquito Control Program. Yates said the virus was
found in a bird trapped and tested on 19 Mar 2002. A blood sample was
sent to Florida for testing and positive results came back on Mon 1
Apr 2001, he said. The bird was the second case of eastern equine
encephalitis found in the area. On Thu [28 Mar 2002?], a horse in
West Baton Rouge Parish tested positive for the virus.

A cardinal trapped near O'Neal Lane in Baton Rouge tested positive
for West Nile virus on 13 Feb 2002, Yates said, and 2 horses were
found with West Nile virus in Cameron Parish in January.

Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish are preparing to place "sentinel
chickens" in cages located at selected sites, Yates said. The
chickens' blood will be tested by the LSU School of Veterinary
Medicine. The blood from wild birds is sent to Florida for testing.
Yates said Louisiana health officials stopped testing the blood of
wild birds in 2000. Yates said when a bird or animal is found to have
one of the viruses, heavy spraying for mosquitoes in the area in
which the virus was discovered is conducted, both by fog trucks and
via airplane. Additionally, he said, workers spray with hand tanks.

So far, no case of St. Louis encephalitis virus infection has been
reported in Louisiana this year. However, more than 60 people were
infected with that virus in West Monroe in 2001, state Health Officer
Dr. Jimmy Guidry said. "I imagine we will find St. Louis encephalitis
again this year," Guidry said. After the outbreak was declared over
last fall, health officials said last year's cases made the area
susceptible for another outbreak this year.

Yates said the Southern House mosquito transmits St. Louis
encephalitis virus and breeds in water that is high in organic
matter. The _Culiseta melanira_ mosquito transmits Eastern equine
encephalitis virus and breeds in highly acidic water that occurs in
small swampy areas. West Nile virus is transmitted by more than 40
species of mosquitoes, including the Northern Flood Water mosquito,
the Asian Tiger mosquito, and the Southern House mosquito.
---------------

From: Matt Cartter <matt.cartter@PO.STATE.CT.US>

[see also:
West Nile virus, bird - USA (Louisiana) 20020323.3810
2001

----
St. Louis encephalitis - USA (Louisiana)              20010829.2047
St. Louis encephalitis - USA (Louisiana) (03)         20010924.2319
2000
----
Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (Louisiana)         20000510.0714
Eastern equine encephalitis - USA (Louisiana): cor... 20000515.0759
1999
----
E. equine enceph., human, livestock - USA(Louisiana)  19990922.1692
East. equine enceph., emus - USA (Louisiana) (02)     19990629.1099
East. equine enceph., emus - USA (Louisiana) (03)     19990702.1115
East. equine enceph., human - USA (Louisiana) (02)    19990701.1105
East. equine enceph., human - USA (Louisiana) (03)    19990717.1204
East. equine enceph. surveillance systems             19990828.1506
East. equine enceph. surveillance systems (02)        19990830.1520
East. equine enceph. surveillance systems (03)        19990831.1527
East. equine encephalitis, horse - USA(Louisiana)(02) 19990601.0920
East. equine encephalitis, horse - USA(Louisiana)(03) 19990602.0926
East. equine encephalitis, horse - USA(Louisiana)(04) 19990709.1145
East. equine encephalitis, horse - USA(Louisiana) (05) 19990722.1237
East. equine encephalitis, horse - USA (Louisiana)... 19990828.1509
East. equine encephalitis, human - USA (Louisiana)    19990629.1100]
--
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