FRONTLINE FEATHERS BIRDS HELP TRACK VIRAL DISEASE MIGRATION.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer ENCINO - A tiny house finch squirms in Jacqueline Spoehel's hands as she draws blood from its jugular jugular /jug·u·lar/ (jug´u-lar) 1. cervical. 2. pertaining to a jugular vein. 3. a jugular vein. jug·u·lar adj. . It may not be a good day for the finch, but like many species of birds, it can - with a bit of its blood - help scientists trace the migration of a potentially deadly disease health officials say is spreading west: West Nile virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. . ``This will indicate if the virus is circulating in the bird population,'' said Paul O'Connor, who recently assisted Spoehel by placing a couple of drops of bird's blood in a tube. Spoehel and O'Connor, both ecologists for the county Vector Control District's Sylmar branch, come to the Encino Golf Course at least once a week to test birds that fly into the traps set out for them. Since the virus first appeared in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of in 1999, teams from Vector Control have included testing for West Nile virus in their regular rounds. They also look for St. Louis encephalitis St. Louis encephalitis see St. Louis encephalitis. and Western Equine encephalitis western equine encephalitis see equine viral encephalomyelitis; abbreviated WEE. in Valley golf courses, parks and the Los Angeles River The Los Angeles River is an intermittent river flowing through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the west end of the San Fernando Valley, 51 miles (82 km) southeast to its mouth in Long Beach. , which meanders through Glendale, Burbank and the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Their goal is to be prepared should traces of the virus begin to appear in birds or mosquitoes. Signs listing precautions have already been made up, ready to be posted on trees and poles. Residents in the affected areas will be urged to protect themselves from mosquito bites by getting rid of standing water and wearing insect repellent and long sleeves. ``If the bird tests positive for St. Louis encephalitis, then we test for West Nile virus,'' Spoehel said. So far, no signs of the virus have been found in California in the three years since its discovery on the East Coast, but as of last week, West Nile had appeared in dead blue jays found as far west as Texas, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. in Atlanta. Health officials say the potentially deadly virus not only has been migrating westward, but also has shown no sign of stopping short of California. ``Some experts think it will be here in a few years. Others think, because of migration patterns, it will come sooner,'' O'Connor said. Mosquitoes spread West Nile from infected migratory birds to humans, who can then develop encephalitis encephalitis (ĕnsĕf'əlī`təs), general term used to describe a diffuse inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, usually of viral origin, often transmitted by mosquitoes, in contrast to a bacterial infection of the meninges , or swelling of the brain, health officials say. The elderly, the very young and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk of developing mosquito-borne encephalitis and West Nile virus. For most people, infections are mild, with flulike symptoms such as headaches, body aches and fever. The CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation reported that, since 1999, West Nile virus has killed 18 in the United States - most of them on the East Coast. More than 100 people have tested positive for it. The virus can also kill horses. For reasons scientists don't quite understand yet, crows and blue jays seem more susceptible to the disease, especially in the summer months and early fall. Vector Control officials have already set up a system so that if dead birds are found, residents can call and have the crow or blue jay removed. The birds will then be tested, and scientists will be able to tell where any West Nile virus hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. are located. Residents can also pick up free mosquito fish from Vector Control's Sylmar Branch at 16320 Foothill Blvd. to place in their lily ponds. The fish eat mosquito larvae Larvae, in Roman religion Larvae: see lemures. . While the San Fernando Valley with its dry, desertlike climate may not seem like a mosquito hot spot, water hazards at golf courses, garden lily ponds, unkempt swimming pools and other man-made water spots are all breeding grounds for the insects. Health officials say California agencies are well prepared for West Nile. ``There are up to 40 agencies working in cooperation with California Health Services,'' said Minoo B. Madon, scientific-technical services director for Vector Control. ``It's the early detection and interaction with these agencies that are already in place that will prevent outbreaks.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) A tiny house finch, trapped for blood testing, flies away upon release by a Vector Control District worker in Encino. (2) Paul O'Connor and Jacqueline Spoehel, ecologists for the county Vector Control District, take blood from a chicken in Encino to test for disease that mosquitoes also spread to people. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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