|
Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Health officials still
want to see bird carcassesQuestion: Is anyone still interested in dead birds, and what do we do with them if we find them?
Answer: The state Department of Health is still looking for any evidence of West Nile virus, which has not been detected in the islands so far, and one source is dead birds.
The public is asked to take dead birds to specific drop-off centers. On Oahu, there is only one collection point, the Hawaiian Humane Society, 2700 Waialae Ave.
West Nile virus is spread by infected mosquitos. The mosquitos can infect people, horses, birds and some other animals, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dead birds may indicate the virus is circulating between birds and mosquitos in an area, prompting the Health Department's call for help in collecting them.
Since the call went out last year, only about 200 birds, mostly on Oahu, have been turned in, according to Shokufeh Ramirez, an epidemiologist with the Health Department's Disease Outbreak Control Division.
Initially, the department asked people to be on the lookout for only six specific species of dead birds, considered high risk. However, it is now asking the public to turn in any kind of dead bird they may encounter.
"We really would like more (to examine)," Ramirez explained. Even if you are unable to bring it in to one of the designated drop-off centers, "if they can call to report it, that's also helpful."
Ramirez said health officials decided to accept any type of bird because not many are being turned in and because Hawaii's birds are different from those on the mainland.
Because many birds in Hawaii are unique, "We're really not sure how they'll respond to West Nile, so it's better to just say turn any birds in," she said.
A necropsy is conducted on the birds, in which specific organs are removed and tested.
Most infected people have only mild, flulike symptoms, but many have died from the virus. In 2002 there were 4,156 human cases of West Nile disease, including 284 deaths, according to the CDC. This year, as of last Friday, 3,370 cases have been reported to the CDC, including 65 deaths.
The public is asked to collect birds if they have been dead for less than 48 hours and are intact. Health officials don't want them if the carcasses have an odor; if they are "soft and mushy"; if there is skin discoloration; if feathers or skin readily rub off; or if there are maggots.
The CDC advises not to handle the dead birds with bare hands. Call the Hawaiian Humane Society at 946-2187 for more information.
Q: The Montel Williams show is no longer on KITV. Why the cancellation, and is it going to be on another channel or on at a different time so at least it could be recorded?
A: The show won't be airing in Hawaii, at least for now.
"Unfortunately, Montel has not attracted much of an audience in Hawaii over the past few years, so we replaced him with 'Judge Judy,' which has attracted better audiences in the past," said Mike Rosenberg, president and general manager of KITV. He also said no other station has picked up Montel.
|
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com
