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Over 600 mosquito pools were taken from Kansas City, Topeka, Manhattan, Wichita, Great Bend, Dodge City, Colby, and Salina areas in August and September 2001 by the Kansas State University (KSU) Entomology Department and a subcontractor PhD entomologist. Sampling included all areas of the state except the southeastern corner. Great Bend trapping yielded the largest number of mosquitoes (avg. 1700 per night and 15 nights of trapping) and Wichita the fewest (avg. 10 per night and 32 night of trappings). Great Bend is in the geographic middle of the state and is near the Cheyenne Bottoms which is in the path of migratory flyways for several bird species in North America. The percentage of Culex spp. increased from northeast to southwest across the state (21% Culex spp. in Kansas City to 97% Culex spp. in Dodge City). Mosquitoes were speciated and separated by species at each site for each night of trapping. Results of testing are in the Laboratory analysis section below.
Only six sites for sentinel chicken flocks were proposed to be located and tested, but 15 sites were identified and used (Colby, Rexford, Mingo, Manhattan, Kansas City, Olathe, Wichita, Salina, Elinwood, Smolan, New Cambria, Great Bend, Garden City, Haysville, and Stillwell) by the KSU subcontractor. At least 6 chickens were sampled from each flock in August 2001 and a total of 100 chickens were sampled for the presence of WNV and SLE. In addition, 26 live American crows were captured in the Wichita area in January 2002 and sent to USGS in Madison, WI for testing and 138 live American crows were sent to CDC in Ft. Collins for testing and other research. As of 3/6/02, 64 crows have been tested by CDC for WNV, SLE and WEE. This work was done with the subcontractor and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Results of bird surveillance serum testing are in the Laboratory analysis section below.
So far, close to 600 mosquito pool samples have been completed testing at KSU veterinary College and none have been positive for WNV. Few samples remain to be tested nd are from the large mosquito pools collected in Great Bend and are not expected to be found positive for WNV. Great Bend is in the center of the state and a random sample of 60 pools from that site were negative. Blood from the sentinel chickens was tested at CDC. WNV was not found in any of the 100 chicken samples, but SLE was found in one chicken sample from Salina. The local health department was notified.
The crow samples were also tested at CDC, similarly to the chicken samples and none of the 64 that have been tested for WNV have been positive; testing results for the other arboviruses and remaining crows have not been completed.
Dead bird surveillance was initiated in September 2001 in conjunction with the University of Kansas Natural History Museum. The Museum donated time and expertise to collecting birds and submitting tissues to USGS for testing in the fall of 2001. A protocol and algorithm were developed to optimize testing for up to 100 birds. Forty-five birds (including eight corvids and one raptor) were submitted, but none were found positive for WNV. All of the birds were collected from the eastern one third of the state. The algorithm for 2002 testing has been developed to allow for up to 3,000 birds to be tested.
Two horses that died with non-rabies encephalitis were submitted by USDA to the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, NVSL in Ames, IA for autopsy and detection of WNV. Neither were positive for WNV.
Three Kansas zoos and one zoo in the Kansas City metro area are expected to participate in the Cornell/AZA study of WNV among zooological specimens
A West Nile Virus Dead Bird Surveillance and Information toll-free phone line has been set up. This line provides information for individuals desiring to submit dead birds (click here to go to page).
No suspected or confirmed reports of human WNV were received from physicians, hospitals, or laboratories in Kansas in 2001. A press release was issued in July 2001 alerting physicians and inviting them to report suspected cases, along with announcements in the Epi Briefs that reaches primarily infectious disease physicians in KS.
Two press releases were sent out in 2001 on WNV. Three specific presentations were made on WNV and Kansas WNV Surveillance activities in 2001--one to private and public health nurses, one to veterinarians, and one to sanitarians.
For additional information about the surveillance program, you can call the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 785-296-2951.
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