State To Use Chickens As Early Warning For Virus

Health Department workers will be fanning out across the northeast Queens "hot zone" in the coming weeks positioning caged chickens to act as sentinels to warn of the return of the West Nile Virus, The Queens Courier has learned. The $7 million plan outlined by the State Health Department is one of several steps designed to prevent a repetition of last summers encephalitis outbreak that sent shock waves throughout the city.
Other techniques include a public education program to instruct homeowners to clean out their gutters and otherwise eliminate standing water on their property, and ground-spraying with larvae-killing pesticides.
The state plan is on display on its web site (www.health.state.ny.us) for public comment until March 1. It is described as a collaborative effort among representatives of the State Department of Health, Environmental Conservation and Agriculture and Markets, New York City Health Department, county health departments and members of environmental organizations.
"Although spraying to eliminate adult mosquitoes has not been ruled out, spraying decisions will be made by individual counties, according to their specific needs," Novello said. "The plan addresses such measures as a last resort. It also promotes numerous non-pesticide methods of mosquito control."
Community groups have made it clear they are opposed to massive helicopter and ground-spraying with malathion in the city, as was done last year.
"We have no way of knowing whether we will see a return of the West Nile Virus to our state come spring," said Dr. Antonia C. Novello, commissioner of the State Health Department. "In spite of that, we have an obligation to be prepared with a comprehensive response that recognizes the concerns of all our citizens and, in turn, addresses the health care needs of New York State residents."
The West Nile Virus was responsible for 61 cases of encephalitis in New York City and surrounding areas this past summer and fall, with seven deaths including a Canadian citizen who contracted the disease on a visit to New York City.
Novello said that more than 100 members of six work groups are putting together proposals on prevention and control of mosquito-borne encephalitis.