WERNER BG, TIMPERI R, MORES C, MYERS K, KONOMI R, BERRADA Z, TOBIN M, HENNIGAN S, MATYAS B, DEMARIA A; Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
Abstr Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2000 Sep 17-20; 40: 180.
State Laboratory Institute, Boston, MA
In response to the outbreak of encephalitis caused by West Nile Virus (WNV) in New York City, the existing Arbovirus Surveillance Program of the MA Department of Public Health was expanded to include WNV in addition to eastern equine encephalitis virus surveillance. Additional mosquito trapsites were set up and dead bird surveillance initiated with specimens tested at the State Laboratory Institute (SLI) by cell culture and RT-PCR. Serologic assays have also been employed to test suspect human cases. No human cases have been identified. Dead birds found in Suffolk and Middlesex counties July 21 and 22 were the first indication that WNV had spread to Massachusetts. By August 18, 14 of 491 birds tested, 12 crows, 1 robin and a grackle, were confirmed to have the virus, and an equal number were considered probable infections. Eleven of the initial positives were centered in Brookline (7) and the nearby Jamaica Plain section of Boston (4). In addition, a WNV positive mosquito pool (Culex sp.) collected August 8 was identified in close proximity to one of the dead crows in Brookline. Rapid turnaround for avian specimens achieved by direct submission of birds to SLI and by pooling selected brain homogenates by species and region provides timely information for prevention and control efforts. Communities with multiple positives have initiated local mosquito control activities, including larviciding and ground adulticiding. State and local press releases and information packets have also been sent out throughout the summer to encourage the use of personal protective measures and the removal of standing water near homes and on public land. Mosquito surveillance will continue until the first frost and bird, horse and human surveillance as long as suspect cases appear.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Animals
- Birds
- Boston
- Crows
- Culex
- Culicidae
- Disease Outbreaks
- Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine
- Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine
- Environment
- Humans
- Jamaica
- Massachusetts
- Mosquito Control
- Motor Activity
- Nervous System Diseases
- New York City
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Seasons
- Songbirds
- West Nile Fever
- West Nile virus
Other ID:
UI: 102247895
From Meeting Abstracts