Seattle - The documented arrival of the West Nile virus (WNV) in Washington state and forecasts that the virus will strike the region have prompted the award-winning Woodland Park Zoo to continue moving forward with proactive measures to protect its valued wildlife collection representing nearly 300 species.

Representatives from Washington State Department of Agriculture and Public Health-Seattle & King County joined the zoo today at a WNV vaccination session for its raptors and to discuss the zoo’s mosquito abatement program, surveillance activities, and how the public can take their own measures to protect neighborhoods, family and pets.

WNV was first detected in the United States in 1999 and has been detected in all but four of the contiguous states and Alaska and Hawaii. The virus is spread by infected mosquitoes to birds, mammals and reptiles.

Last fall, the zoo implemented its WNV program by vaccinating its ponies. Since then, other hoof stock such as zebras, elephants, tapirs and mountain goats have been inoculated with the only vaccine commercially available to date æ a vaccine for equines. In March, the zoo began the first round of inoculations for its birds including raptors, penguins and endangered crane species. Today’s vaccinations marked the third and final round for the zoo’s raptors. “Without a vaccine available yet for birds,” notes zoo Senior Veterinarian Dr. Janis Joslin, “the equine vaccine is our only option to protect our animals from infection.

“Private veterinarians and horse owners are doing a terrific job in assuring that Washington doesn’t experience a serious outbreak of WNV among the state’s horses,” says Washington State Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Mead. “More than 80,000 horses have been vaccinated since January 2002 based on the number of doses of vaccines distributed within the state.”

WNV is not transmitted directly from person-to-person except under unusual circumstances. Joslin explains that the virus is not transmitted from mammals or birds to people. “Direct contact with our ponies, birds or other animals does not pose a public health threat to our 1 million-plus annual visitors, employees and volunteers.”

The zoo’s mosquito abatement program entails eliminating mosquito habitat such as standing water; cutting back vegetation throughout the zoo’s botanical grounds of 92 acres; setting mosquito traps;
applying environmentally-safe insecticides and larvicides to pools on the grounds; and pre-screening birds from other zoological institutions.

Zoos are uniquely positioned to conduct surveillance of wild animals for WNV because of the lush, vast collection of plants and vegetation, a natural magnet for native wildlife. Like numerous zoos around the country, Woodland Park is participating in surveillance activities funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with participation from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Geologic Survey (USGS), state and local public health organizations, wildlife agencies, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV), Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago), New York Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Cornell University to monitor for the disease in zoo collections and local wildlife.

Surveillance activities involve zoo staff and volunteers monitoring the grounds for dead or sick wild birds and other mammals. “All dead animals found on grounds will be tested and tissue samples collected and sent to Cornell for virus testing,” says Joslin. Additionally, “Our zoo’s expert pest control personnel and programs will help augment our surveillance efforts.” Monitoring for the presence of WNV in birds and other animals has been underway and the zoo will continue to track the extent of any problem, prevent serious infections and determine the best strategies to combat the virus.

For more information about how to protect your pets from WNV, contact your local veterinarian or visit The American Veterinary Medical Association at www.avma.org. There are numerous things you can do at home to help make neighborhoods safe for yourself, your family, your pets and wildlife. Check out other resources from the Public-Health Seattle & King County; Washington State Department of Health or call 1.866.78VIRUS; Washington Department of Agriculture; or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Woodland Park Zoo opens daily at 9:30 a.m. and closes 5:00 p.m. during spring. For more information, call 206.684.4800.