Zoos Vaccinating Against West Nile

PHILADELPHIA: August 24, 2002 — Zoos in Philadelphia and Hershey have vaccinated their birds as a protection against the potentially deadly West Nile virus. At ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Hershey, the birds were vaccinated Friday. The move came after two golden eagles, two snowy owls and a red-tailed hawk died within the past two weeks.

The surviving 30 birds will remain indoors and out of public view until the vaccine makes them immune to West Nile _ a process that could take up to six weeks, spokesman Garrett Gallia said.

The zoo, adjacent to Hersheypark, is awaiting test results to confirm whether the birds died of West Nile.

The Philadelphia Zoo has vaccinated its exotic birds with a horse vaccine that veterinarians hope will work in other species. Other zoos around the country are taking similar precautions.

Last summer, five birds at the zoo died of West Nile. There have been no deaths this year.

The equine vaccine was given to the birds, starting in April, because no other vaccine for the virus exists, senior veterinarian Keith Hinshaw said.

Animals such as horses and some birds have been especially susceptible to the virus. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thousands of birds nationwide have contracted the virus this year.

In addition, there have been 644 reported cases of horses infected with the virus, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The virus can cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord in people; in birds, it can also cause inflammation of other organs, such as the heart and the intestines, Hinshaw said.

West Nile emerged in this country in 1999, when a large number of crows died in New York City. According to the CDC, 149 people contracted the virus in the United States and 18 died from 1999 through 2001.

This year, there have been 296 cases of human illness from the virus; 14 people, most of them in Southern states, have died.

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Author: 6-ABC