West Nile Virus surveillance program gets underway

The provincial government is participating in a national West Nile Virus Surveillance Program again this year. The program is a coordinated surveillance effort to monitor the presence and movement of the West Nile Virus in Canada during the mosquito season.

Dr. Hugh Whitney, provincial veterinarian with the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, said research work carried out in this province during the West Nile Virus Program in the summer of 2001 has determined that the risk of the disease entering Newfoundland and Labrador is minimal. The risk is low because the presence of those mosquito species necessary for the spread of this disease have not been detected in our province.

Dr. Whitney explained that while there is a low risk of the disease entering Newfoundland and Labrador, the province is pleased to continue to be part of the surveillance program as a precautionary measure. However, there will not be an extensive program of collecting and analysing dead crows this year as is being done in other provinces. He explained the province must remain vigilant and the general public are being asked to report any large scale sightings of sick or dead crows, ravens, blue jay and grey jays to their local conservation officer or the office of the provincial veterinarian at (709) 729-6879.

"Although single birds may die for a number of reasons, the observation of larger scale die-offs has been considered to be a valuable indicator of the arrival of this disease. Such die-offs would then be investigated by this department to determine the cause," said Dr. Whitney. "We always encourage the public to report any abnormal deaths in birds or other wildlife which can help with the monitoring efforts of other diseases as well."

Health officials are also advising people who may be travelling to the U.S. or mainland Canada this summer where the virus has been detected, to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. These precautions may include wearing protective clothing and applying a mosquito repellent, such as DEET, to exposed skin when mosquito bites are likely.

This West Nile Virus is spread by the bite of infected mosquitos. The virus has caused a number of cases of human illnesses and deaths in the U.S., as well as a much higher number of cases of illness and death in horses and wild birds. It was first detected in North America in 1999 after an outbreak of wild bird deaths around the Bronx Zoo in New York City and cases of human and horse illness. It has since moved out of this area into at least 27 U.S. states as well as Washington, DC, and crossed over into southern Ontario in the summer of 2001.

Individuals interested in more information on this disease can consult our Web site at under Animal Diseases.

Media contact: Dr. Hugh Whitney, Forest Resources and Agrifoods, (709) 729-6879.

2002 05 17                           3:10 p.m.