State officials have begun taking actions they hope will keep the West Nile virus out of Hawaii. State enacts bird ban
to deter West Nile virusTemporary measures are applied
pending a permanent responseBy Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.comYesterday, the state Department of Agriculture announced an immediate embargo on shipment of birds to Hawaii through the U.S. mail.
On Thursday, the state Board of Agriculture will consider an emergency rule that would require all Hawaii-bound birds to be quarantined in a mosquito-free mainland holding pen for seven days before being allowed in the state.
Veterinarian Jason Moniz, an agriculture branch chief, said the proposed 120-day emergency rule would give the department time to develop a permanent response to the disease.
The weeklong quarantine would ensure that, even if it had been exposed, a bird wouldn't have enough West Nile Virus in its system to infect other animals.
West Nile virus is primarily a wild-bird disease and is transmitted by mosquitoes. Horses and humans can be infected by a mosquito that's bitten an infected bird, but cannot pass on the disease, a release from the Agriculture Department said.
The virus has been identified in 42 states, most recently in California.
Most people who have been infected have such minor symptoms they don't realize they have the virus. However, since the virus was first identified in New York in 1999, "there have been more than 80 (human) deaths across the country," state Health Director Bruce Anderson said.
"As the cases move west, that certainly increases the likelihood of it getting to Hawaii."
Even if there weren't a human health concern, biologists warn that the disease could wipe out the state's 29 species of endangered birds.
"The issue has progressed so quickly, I think at the very least what's needed is a quarantine or ban on bird species considered high risk," said Earl Campbell, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service invasive species manager.
"I'm optimistic that people are now looking at preventative measures vs. just monitoring the disease coming here. I think that's very key," Campbell said. "The rest of the U.S. has been in monitoring mode. We want it not to get here in the first place."
Moniz also expressed hope of keeping the disease out of Hawaii.
"The chance for importation through pet birds or poultry is low, but the risk for establishment should it get here is high," he said, because there are ideal mosquitoes and bird species to spread it. The Health Department will begin testing dead wild birds for the West Nile virus in a few weeks, because that is usually the first place the disease turns up, Anderson said.
The same test will be used to screen any people with symptoms that match that of the virus. Testing would only be on people referred by their doctor, he said.
Officials also are considering spraying pesticides on the contents of incoming airplanes, but Anderson said that's probably an unlikely point of entry.
Hawaii officials note that most of Hawaii's migratory birds fly here from Alaska, which has not reported any West Nile virus. There also is an assumption that if a migrating bird were infected it would probably not be able to make the strenuous flight of more than 2,000 miles.
State Health Department
State of Hawaii
