Culex species mosquito biting a human hand.

A deadly disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes continues to afflict people and wildlife in the United States.

Human deaths from West Nile virus (WNV) are alarmingly high for 2012, as this year is on track to become the worst West Nile virus epidemic ever in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  reports that more than 120 people this year have died from a fatal inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) caused by WNV, and the disease has been diagnosed in more than 2,630 people.

Wildlife also suffer from the disease, which is transmitted by infected mosquitoes (primarily members of the Culex species) to more than 100 species of birds and to nine mammal species including humans and horses. Evidence of infection has also been reported in amphibians and in reptiles such as alligators.

The virus was first discovered in the West Nile area of the east African nation of Uganda in 1937. From 1950 onward, it spread throughout the Mediterranean and Europe. In 1999 the first North American case was diagnosed in wildlife in Queens, N.Y., and that’s when the USGS became involved.

USGS Science and West Nile Virus

For nearly 40 years, the USGS National Wildlife Health Center  (NWHC) has been working to advance wildlife and ecosystem health by identifying, understanding and responding to disease threats to our native wildlife, as well as sharing that information with public health and domestic animal health agencies.

Screenshot of the USGS West Nile Virus website

In the case of West Nile virus, on Sept. 2, 1999, the NWHC was contacted by New York state officials regarding sick, dying and dead American crows. After the disease was identified as West Nile virus, the USGS also provided diagnostic and technical assistance to state health departments to test dead birds as part of an emerging WNV surveillance effort. This assistance eventually expanded to include 25 states until local public health departments began to develop their own surveillance and testing capabilities. The CDC provided funding for this effort.

The USGS Eastern Geographic Science Center began collaborating with the CDC in 2000 to use the surveillance data to produce weekly national maps depicting surveillance efforts by counties within U.S. states and the presence of WNV. As a result of the development of these disease maps, USGS now produces GIS mapping and graphic products that show the occurrence and distribution of West Nile virus and other wildlife diseases by county, state and by week of occurrence.

West Nile Research at USGS Now

Emerging pathogens such as WNV pose a major threat to conservation efforts in maintaining the health of wildlife, in particular birds. Wild birds are the principal hosts of WNV, and many birds die from WNV infections. Greater sage-grouse, American white pelicans, and species groups such as corvids (crows, jays, ravens, and related species), and raptors are quite susceptible to WNV and continue to be the focus of research on WNV at NWHC.

USGS scientists are involved in laboratory studies of WNV, and research on free-living wild birds is on-going at many USGS science centers. Resource managers and scientists are especially concerned about the effect of this virus on greater sage-grouse and American white pelicans. Both species were imperiled prior to the arrival of WNV; because they are highly susceptible to this disease they have experienced widespread mortality.

Thus far WNV has never been reported in Hawaii. However, resource managers and others are greatly concerned that if WNV becomes established in that state, it could devastate the native Hawaiian bird community. Hawaiian forest birds, some species of which are among the most endangered birds in the world, would be at risk from the disease in the event WNV spreads to the islands. The USGS is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Hawaii as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct WNV surveillance.

Sage-grouse have declined throughout their entire range, largely due to the loss and fragmentation of sagebrush habitat.

One Health: The Connection between Global Health and Domestic Animal, Wildlife, and Human Disease

The USGS is vigilant for newly emerging and re-emerging wildlife diseases, as well as monitoring existing wildlife health concerns. Virulent Newcastle disease in cormorants, avian influenza in waterfowl, and white-nose syndrome in bats are just a few of the diseases USGS tracks. The Eastern Geographic Science Center is mapping the occurrence of arboviral diseases that have a wildlife- mosquito cycle: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis, and La Crosse encephalitis. In addition to the maps displayed on USGS web pages, at the county level these pages also provide epidemiological information including a histogram of disease cases per week over time, tables of disease cases by state, and other related information. The USGS has been producing West Nile virus surveillance maps since 2000 and plans to continue this highly valued partnership with CDC into the future.

Studying diseases in wildlife is obviously important work for the health and welfare of wildlife, but it is also important for the health of humans and domestic animals—70 percent of recent emerging human diseases originated in wildlife or domestic animals, including West Nile virus, plague, AIDS, SARS and avian influenza. The health of humans, animals — wild and domestic — and ecosystems are all inter-related; this is the concept of “One Health,” which advocates understanding and appreciating the links among human, animal and ecosystem health, and the importance of and commitment to working together to address health challenges.

West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes. Photo Credit: National Pesticide Information Center

Taking the Bite Out of West Nile Virus 

Mosquitos can be pesky little creatures.   They are the uninvited guests at summer cookouts.   Overnight camping trips near areas of standing water can result in a rash of irritating bites.

But, mosquitos can also transmit a number of diseases, including the potentially serious illness, West Nile virus (WNV).

What is West Nile virus?

Since 1999 WNV has spread from the New York City region to the lower 48 states, seven Canadian provinces, and throughout Mexico and Central America and parts of the Caribbean and South America.  The virus can infect at least 48 species of mosquitos, over 250 species of birds, and at least 18 species of mammals, including humans.  As a member of the Flavivirus family, it is transmitted through infected mosquitoes.   It is known to be a seasonal epidemic and tends to flare up in the summer months and continue into the fall.

How is the USGS involved?

Wildlife disease scientists at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center  have worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal and state public health and wildlife agencies across the US to monitor wild birds for the presence of the virus.  Data collected is used to determine the geographic spread of WNV and to possibly predict future outbreaks.  USGS continues to map WNV cases as they are reported from the CDC.  The general public can determine the seasonal spread of the virus from these maps, and whether trends or clusters of the disease exist.  Since WNV has not spread to Hawaii yet, USGS scientists, together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA-Wildlife Services, are conducting targeted surveillance of wild birds at airports in Hawaii, a likely point of entry for WNV. In addition to public health concerns if WNV is introduced to Hawaii, concern exists over its possible impacts on Hawaii’s unique native bird species.  USGS scientists are also evaluating if commercial veterinary vaccines against WNV can be safe and effective in certain endangered and threatened wild bird species.

The USGS is involved in a range of research projects on WNV including work on various native birds.   Studies at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center have included behavior and ecological research involving the Eastern Screen Owls and Brown-headed Cowbirds.  Measuring the effects of WNV on the American Kestrels and other raptors in the wild are underway at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center. And studies on the impact of WNV on white pelican colonies are taking place at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.

What are the symptoms of West Nile virus in humans?

According to the CDC four out of five people will show no symptoms at all if they are infected with WNV.  But, if you develop any of the following symptoms, a visit to your doctor may be in order:

• High fever, headache and body aches
• Muscle weakness or vision loss
• Disorientation, stupor, vomiting

Symptoms may last a few days or several weeks and neurological effects may be permanent.

What can be done to help prevent West Nile virus in humans?

Family picnic invites unwanted mosquito guests. Photo Credit: Creative Commons

Prevention of mosquito bites is key when it comes to avoiding WNV.   The CDC recommends the following:

• When outdoors use an insect repellent with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered active ingredient and follow the directions carefully.
•  Avoid spending time outside in the dawn and dusk hours when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when in areas prone to heavy mosquito activity.
•  Replace or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
•  Get rid of potential mosquito breeding sites by dumping out all standing water in buckets, flower pots, tires, and other vessels.  Keep children’s pools empty and standing on their sides when not in use.
• Since the West Nile virus can remain in infected birds, do not handle sick or dead birds with your bare hands.  You can safely dispose of dead birds by using a shovel to place the dead bird in a bag and then placing it in the trash can.  As a precaution the shovel should be disinfected afterwards.  If in doubt please contact your local health department or wildlife agency.

Currently, no human vaccine exists for WNV, although scientists are working on the issue.  But, we can be proactive in preventing this sometimes severe disease.