News Release: West Nile Virus Identified in Second Missouri Bird

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102

For Immediate Release:
July 18, 2002

Contact:
Dr. Howard Pue
Section of Communicable Disease Control and Veterinary Public Health
573/751-6113

West Nile Virus Identified in Second Missouri Bird; No Human Cases Reported

West Nile virus has been identified in one crow that was found dead in St. Louis City in late June. Today the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin, notified the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services that the crow tested positive. To date, no laboratory-confirmed human cases of West Nile virus have been reported.

This is the second bird to test positive for West Nile virus in Missouri this year. A blue jay from Stoddard County tested positive on July 16, 2002 (refer to News Release dated July 17, 2002).

For more information on West Nile virus, contact your local health department or the Department of Health and Senior Services at 1-800/392-0272 or 573/751-6113. Attached is a fact sheet on West Nile virus. For more information, go to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services web site at www.dhss.state.mo.us.

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Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Section of Communicable Disease Control and Veterinary Public Health
Telephone (573) 751-6113

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