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Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002
Posted by: Michael Gochfeld (gochfeld@eohsi.rutgers.edu)

It might be interesting to survey those of us who handle wild birds, but if it is decided to invest in designing the study and obtaining participants, it would be useful to think through what other diseases besides West Nile might prove fruitful. The actual lab analysis is only part of the cost. It would certainly be interesting (surprising) to discover that WNV antibodies are more commonly found in bird handler than others. In 1999 New Jersey did provide cautionary information regarding the collecting of dead birds for analysis (pick them up in a plastic bag avoiding direct contact, and double bag them).

Michael Gochfeld

Ellen Paul wrote:

Would it make sense/generate useful information to conduct serosurveys of those who handle wild birds (ornithologists, bird banders, rehabbers)? We are trying to determine the risk to researchers, and have only one report of a researcher becoming infected - the lab tech in New York State - which, I've heard, was possibly the result of a needle stick.

Ellen Paul

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Ellen Paul           
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Mailto:epaul@concentric.net
Ornithological Council Website:  http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"

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