State vows vigilance
against West Nile
A positive test for the
virus in a bird turns out
to be a false result
State officials breathed a sigh of relief that a preliminary test for West Nile virus in Maui turned out to be a false positive, but they vowed to stay vigilant to keep Hawaii free of the potentially fatal illness.
A wild sparrow caught at Kahului Airport had tested positive for the virus in preliminary tests last week, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colo., reported yesterday that further laboratory results were negative.
"We are relieved that this test turned out negative," said Gov. Linda Lingle in a written statement. "This incident provided an excellent opportunity for the state, county and private-sector partners to coordinate and mobilize quickly and efficiently to implement preventative measures against West Nile virus."
State health officials had stepped up the capture and testing of birds after the preliminary test results.
"In every screening test, there is a small chance that you're going to get a false positive," state epidemiologist Paul Effler said at a news conference yesterday.
Effler said he received a call from the laboratory director at 5:45 a.m. yesterday informing him of the confirmed negative test results from a blood sample taken from the sparrow.
Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau, said, "I'm so relieved that the outcome is good for us, but we can't let our guard down."
She noted that the outcome reinforces efforts by residents and businesses to clear standing water from their property where mosquitos are likely to breed, as well as efforts to turn in dead birds to the state Health Department for testing. A total of 256 dead birds were collected statewide this year as of Monday.
Effler said the false-positive result could have been caused by the bird reacting to a virus that belongs to the same family as West Nile. Health officials are expected to find out next week what caused the false positive.
"It's very plausible that this bird could be producing antibodies for a virus that doesn't affect humans at all," he said. "We certainly have no information that would suggest that we have a human pathogenic arbovirus in Hawaii at this point."
Health officials will continue to remain vigilant in efforts to keep the virus from entering the state. Hawaii, Alaska and Washington are the only states that have not had confirmed cases of the virus.
"This is a good wake-up call for us as far as the West Nile," Effler added. "California is still seeing a lot of West Nile activity, and we have a threat of introduction all the time."
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans through mosquitos. It cannot spread through contact with infected birds or other people.
The virus remains a potential threat to Hawaii as the disease spreads throughout the mainland, especially on the West Coast.
According to the CDC, California has 563 cases, the highest in the country. Arizona and Colorado have the second- and third-highest number of cases at 362 and 225, respectively.
Of the 1,784 nationwide cases reported this year as of Tuesday, 56 people died from the disease, 632 people suffered from West Nile meningitis or encephalitis, and 721 people developed West Nile fever.
In response to the increased cases on the West Coast, the state Health Department alerted physicians two months ago to be aware of the symptoms and residents to turn in dead birds for testing.
Twelve dead birds on Maui and 41 on Oahu were recently collected. Officials said the testing of dead birds is vital in identifying and controlling the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, state vector control workers were to continue spraying insecticide around buildings at Kahului Airport last night, wind permitting.
"This is going to be the last time until further notice," said state vector control supervisor Donald Taketa.
