West Nile virus surveillance plans announced for 2005

The provincial government is continuing its surveillance for West Nile virus for another year. As in past years, the public is requested to notify the conservation officer in their local area should they see any dead crows, ravens, blue jays or grey jays. These birds will be picked up and submitted for West Nile virus testing. The program started May 15 and ends at the first killing frost in the fall.

So far, there has not been any indication that this disease has reached this province; however, research currently being carried out in cooperation with Memorial University has identified for the first time in this province the type of mosquitoes that can carry the virus. That means the potential exists for the spread of the infection to birds, animals and humans. Though the province�s climate does not encourage the spread of this disease, officials remain vigilant through the surveillance program.

Research into these mosquitoes will increase this summer, again in cooperation with Memorial University, through its St. John�s and Corner Brook campuses. As the discovery of the new mosquito species was on the island�s west coast, new areas will be examined to determine how widespread these mosquitoes are.

The surveillance work in this province is part of a national surveillance effort that is being carried out jointly by federal and provincial public health and animal health agencies, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre, the provincial departments of Health and Community Services and Natural Resources.

"Though we have now found mosquitoes that can spread the disease, we believe our risks are still quite low," said Dr. Hugh Whitney, Provincial Veterinarian. "A number of factors have to come into play for us to see reported cases of the disease. The mosquitoes need extended periods of warm weather before they can successfully spread the disease."

Dr. Faith Stratton, Chief Medical Officer of Health commented: "While we have no evidence at this time that the West Nile virus exists in the province, public health staff will be monitoring for signs of WNV infection, particularly for persons who have traveled to areas where the infection is known to exist."

For further information, please consult our Web site at www.gov.nl.ca/agric under Animal Diseases, or contact:

Dr. Hugh Whitney
Provincial Veterinarian
Department of Natural Resources
(709) 729-6879

Dr. Faith Stratton
Chief Medical Officer of Health
Department of Health and Community Services
(709) 729-3430

Media contacts:
  Carmel Turpin, Natural Resources, (709) 729-5282, 685-4624
  Carolyn Chaplin, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377, 682-5093

2005 05 16                  3:20 p.m.