West Nile Virus Season Ends

The West Nile virus season in Nova Scotia is over for this year. Of the 911 dead birds tested for the virus, 17 birds were positive during the 2003 season.

The positive birds were found in Annapolis, Antigonish, Digby, Kings, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties. The Department of Natural Resources is no longer collecting dead birds for West Nile virus testing.

"We said at the beginning of the season that we were expecting more positive birds than the four we confirmed last year, that we might see positive mosquito pools, and that West Nile virus infection in people was a possibility," said Dr. Maureen Baikie, associate provincial medical officer of health. "West Nile virus is very unpredictable, but all in all, it was not a particularly severe year for the virus in Nova Scotia."

All of the 11 mosquito pools trapped and tested were negative for West Nile virus.

"Our mosquito surveillance survey for this year ended in early October," said Jeff Ogden, a field entomologist with the Department of Natural Resources. "All mosquito pools tested for West Nile virus were negative, which means the risk of West Nile Virus infection to Nova Scotians remains low. We will continue our field work during the 2004 mosquito season to try and determine where the birds are being infected."

Nova Scotia had two confirmed human cases of travel-related West Nile virus this year.

"Obviously, we are very happy that we made it through another summer in Nova Scotia with no locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infection in people," said Dr. Baikie.

A provincial working group was established in 2000 to follow development of West Nile virus in other parts of North America and to develop response plans for Nova Scotia. The group consists of experts on birds, mosquitoes, animals and human health.

The group released the West Nile Virus Action Plan in May 2003 to track incidences of the illness, provide information to the public and health professionals, allow diagnostic testing closer to home, help protect the blood supply and reduce mosquito populations.

Planning for the 2004 West Nile virus season has already begun and will continue at provincial and federal levels over the winter.

For more information on West Nile virus, including a chart that indicates the number of positive birds in each county, visit the Department of Health website at www.gov.ns.ca/health/opmoh/wnile.htm .