US States Turn to Sentinel Chickens as West Nile Virus Cases Rise Early
With West Nile transmission starting earlier than usual this year, officials in Delaware and other states are using chickens as an early warning system to track the mosquito-borne virus.
US health officials are using chickens as an early detection tool for West Nile virus after the disease began spreading unusually early this year, according to The Guardian.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned in July that the start of West Nile virus transmission in some states this year was the earliest since 2004, based on the number of cases recorded in early summer.
In response, Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has turned to sentinel chickens as part of its mosquito surveillance program. Chickens can test positive for the virus after being bitten by infected mosquitoes but cannot become sick from it or spread it further, making them useful as an early warning indicator, according to the report.
"They kind of are the proverbial canary in the coal mine," said Tom Moran, head of the mosquito control section at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, as quoted by The Guardian.
By monitoring chickens for signs of the virus, officials can detect the presence of West Nile virus in mosquito populations before it spreads to humans, allowing for targeted mosquito control efforts in affected areas.
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected mosquitoes, which acquire the virus after feeding on infected birds. Most people infected with the virus do not develop symptoms, but some can experience fever, headache, and body aches, while a small percentage develop severe neurological illness.
Sources
- US scientists turn to chickens to sound the alarm as West Nile cases rise — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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