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Montgomery: Dead birds to be tested for virus

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  • Montgomery: Dead birds to be tested for virus


    Dead birds to be tested for virus


    The discovery of more than a dozen dead birds in the backyards of homes in a central Montgomery neighborhood Saturday raised concerns of possible West Nile virus or avian flu infections.

    But state Health Officer Dr. Donald Williams said it did not appear from descriptions of the birds that either of the infectious diseases were involved.

    However, Williamson said, "We are going to test them as quickly as possible."

    "West Nile virus is endemic in Alabama, but from what I've heard, it does not appear right now that they might have been involved in the deaths of those birds," Williamson said Saturday afternoon.

    Billy Houlton of 837 Sir Michael Drive said he found the dead birds when he began mowing his backyard Saturday morning. Each time he restarted or moved his mower in a different direction he found another dead bird.

    By the time he stopped, he had discovered seven dead birds including five doves, a blue jay and a cardinal.

    The seventh bird, a dove, was found under a dogwood bush in his front yard. Three neighbors also found dead birds in their backyards and one was found in a gutter across the street from Houlton's home.

    "I don't know what killed 'em, but I'm concerned," Houlton, 66, said as he inspected the dead birds. "There's no telling how they died."

    Houlton said none of his neighbors knew of anyone using pellet guns in recent days and he was unaware of any mosquito spraying in the area.

    Williamson said it is possible that insecticide or pesticide spraying in recent days may have killed the birds.

    He said he was concerned about the dead blue jay because, he said, "they are known to have been infected by the West Nile Virus."

    "We certainly need to test them all," Williamson said.
    "It is important for people who find dead birds not to touch them with their hands. They should be handled with gloves or a shovel."

    Williamson said it appeared that none of the dead birds had been infected by avian influenza or bird flu, an infection caused by bird viruses. According to the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them.

    There have been human cases of bird flu reported in Asia and parts of Europe and Africa, but none in the United States, according to the CDC.

    "The blue jay may or may not be West Nile, but it is the right species," Williamson said. "We'll certainly be happy to test the blue jay and possibly the others as well.

    The mosquito-borne West Nile virus has been identified in more than 200 species of birds found dead in the United States.

    Houlton said Saturday afternoon that he put the birds in plastic bags, placed them in a Styrofoam cooler and covered them with ice. He said he was not going to put the dead birds in the freezer of his refrigerator.

    Houlton said he has been told that the state Department of Agriculture and Industries will take possession of the dead birds, possibly on Monday, and examine them.

  • #2
    Re: Montgomery: Dead birds to be tested for virus

    Health official says West Nile didn't kill Montgomery birds
    7/11/2006, 7:28 a.m. CT
    The Associated Press

    MONTGOMERY (AP) ? State Health Officer Don Williamson says seven birds that were found dead in Montgomery this weekend didn't die from the avian influenza or West Nile virus.

    Williamson said lab tests to determine exactly what did kill the five doves, a cardinal and a blue jay won't be complete until today or later this week.

    Meanwhile, a Crenshaw County man said yesterday that he's found three dead doves on his property.

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