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USGS is working with states to coordinate a multi-state
surveillance network aimed at detecting and monitoring West Nile Virus
in birds.
In
June 8, 2000, the New York and New Jersey Public Health Departments
reported detecting the West Nile virus (WNV) in tissues from wild crows.
In New York the positive tests came from two American crows found dead
on May 22 in Rockland County; the WNV positive crow from New Jersey
was picked up in Bergen County on May 30. The Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) has confirmed both of these results.
 The
USGS Mapping Division is working with CDC to produce maps from CDC’s
WNV Surveillance System for the National Atlas of the United States.
These products will be available to the public through the National
Atlas website. Products include maps depicting the geographic range
and expansion of WNV, and interactive maps linking to authoritative
sources for information on the WNV.
The
USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, is continuing
to provide diagnostic testing of bird carcasses and tissues submitted
from state public health and state conservation agencies for the determination
of WNV infection. A total of 316 birds from 15 states were tested from
January 1 to June 15 of 2000. This included 180 birds from New York
State; all were negative for WNV. During 1999,USGS tested 841 animals
from 14 states and the District of Columbia and 45 submissions were
positive.
USGS
has expanded its surveillance efforts for WNV by testing crows found dead
on federal wildlife refuges, national parks, and Department of Defense
lands for the WHV. USGS will also conduct selective field investigations
in support of local state public health and federal agencies. Suspect
birds from the surveillance areas will be tested at the USGS biological
containment facility in Madison.
In
collaboration with Wildlife Services of U.S. Department of Agriculture
and state wildlife agencies, USGS is conducting active surveillance of
resident wild bird species to identify local areas of WNV activity. To
date USGS has tested close to 1,200 blood samples collected from resident
bird species from 10 Atlantic coastal states. No evidence of WNV activity
was detected during the first 5 months of 2000.
USGS
is also conducting laboratory and field research to determine the susceptibility
and virulence of West Nile virus in native bird species. Laboratory studies
with American crows are in progress at the USGS biological containment
facility.
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