West Nile Virus

[surfingpigeon]

I've read on a lot of websites that pigeons can't contract West Nile virus. But yesterday when reading I noticed my city and the one next door had bird and pigeon extermination department for West Nile. This is definetely a concern since I own poultry, and plan on having a little pidgey.

[feralpigeon]

Originally Posted by surfingpigeon

I've read on a lot of websites that pigeons can't contract West Nile virus. But yesterday when reading I noticed my city and the one next door had bird and pigeon extermination department for West Nile. This is definetely a concern since I own poultry, and plan on having a little pidgey.

Hi James,

That wouldn't be SF would it? I'm curious as I live in Bay Area, which two
cities that would be?

[Birdmom4ever]

I've felt some concern about this, too. From everything I've read, pigeons aren't susceptible. So far I haven't heard of anyone's birds being destroyed because of West Nile, but your post concerns me. As FP asked, what city?

[surfingpigeon]

Originally Posted by feralpigeon

Hi James,

That wouldn't be SF would it? I'm curious as I live in Bay Area, which two
cities that would be?

Yes, it's near SF. Concord and Hayward to be exact.

[photokev]

I'm hearing rumblings about it here in FL too.

[Birdmom4ever]

SP, was what you read about a government agency or was it an exterminator company? Because it could be that exterminators will use West Nile as an excuse to encourage people to hire them to eradicate feral pigeons.

[feralpigeon]

Originally Posted by Birdmom4ever

SP, was what you read about a government agency or was it an exterminator company? Because it could be that exterminators will use West Nile as an excuse to encourage people to hire them to eradicate feral pigeons.

Hi folks,

In addition to Birdmom's points above, I was wondering what if any screening
or testing would be done? Also, who, if done, would oversee the screening?
Can you point us to a link where the original article was?

[surfingpigeon]

Hi Guys. I found a few links that I saw the other day:

http://www.nsc.org/ehc/ew/disaster/westnile.htm

http://www.highbeam.com/library/doc0...yword=&teaser=

http://www.mamashealth.com/infect/west.asp

I learned that pigeons and a lot of wild birds, can contract the virus! It's very scary, and very disappointing. I hope I don't have to get rid of my birds

[photokev]

Pigeons can definitely contract the virus and although it seems to be more of a concern in the northern part of the state, I still worry a little. When Homie comes in the morning I leave the window open and invariably a mosquito or two will come in as well. The during the day, I basically have a closed system where the mosquito can bite either me, the dog, Homie or chicken... or worse, several of us. I'm not too worried about getting sick, WN is usually only a problem for the very young,, elderly or those with a compromised immune system and I don't fit into any of those categories. BUT I still don't want to be exposed or have a client that comes here to the studio be exposed. It's a concern.

[feralpigeon]

Hi SP,

Thanks for those links, very informative. I'm wondering if you remember which
local newspaper, if you read it, you saw the original post in? Or mag?

Thanks!

PS--Photokev, you could always get some Malathion cologne

[photokev]

Would it help with the chicks? hehe

[feralpigeon]

Originally Posted by photokev

Would it help with the chicks? hehe

Might drop them dead in their tracks......ouch

[surfingpigeon]

It was in the Contra Costa (County) Times. I was more concerned about my friends at the park, than rather contracting the virus.

The virus is also a concern to me as well since I do have a weak immune system. If someone has a cold in a room I'm in, I'll get it. No doubt.

[Birdmom4ever]

One other thought on this, which didn't occur to me until after these posts: I had a conversation with one of my vets last year when my goose was sick with an unknown ailment. She didn't suspect West Nile but did mention we wouldn't want to test for it because testing would raise red flags with the state. I believe that if a lab receives a sample and it's positive for West Nile, they have to report it to the appropriate agencies. I suspect there is the potential for the state to come in and destroy one's birds if they are found to be reservoirs for the virus. I must stress again that I have NOT heard of this happening with this disease, but I think we should be very careful about testing.

[photokev]

hmmm, I have to disagree with you BM, I think testing is a good idea. I don't understand why a medical professional wouldn't want to test for something (especially this serious) on the chance it might be positive and have to report it. That scares me actually. Maybe if we pretend it isn't happening it'll go away?

Isn't that how SARS started in China?