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West Nile Virus is
a disease that is most common in birds, but it can infect people. It was
first reported in the United States in 1999 in the northeast, and since that
time has spread across the country. It originated in Europe and Africa,
and had been in Australia also. Birds form the reservoir of the
infection. It kills birds and it can cause death in humans and horses
and other mammals.. The types of birds most susceptible are crows and
jays. Our concern is, "Where do pigeons sit in this disease picture?"
Can Pigeons get
West Nile?
Pigeons are sometimes tested and they can test positive for the
antibodies, which means that they have been exposed to the disease. They
are very resistant and seldom if ever get sick from it. If they do have
antibodies, they probably did not have enough of an infection to become able
to transmit the disease to a mosquito. Remember, they
originated from the same part of the world as the WN virus so they have some
genetic experience with the disease. In short,
pigeons can be
exposed to the disease, but they are not susceptible. If they should be
exposed, they would have antibodies and become totally resistant for the rest of their lives.
Can pigeons
transmit the disease?
The only way that WN can be transmitted is via a vector, such as a mosquito or
biting insect like a
sand flies,
ceratopogonid (no-see-ums), or even ticks. And an insect
would have to bite an infected bird within 1-4 days of the bird becoming sick,
and then the bird would be resistant for life. Pigeons probably never
have enough of the virus circulating in their blood to transmit the disease to
mosquitoes.
Should our
customers ever be afraid of getting West Nile from our birds?
No! But take precautions to control mosquitoes near your
loft, and should someone ask you can assure then that you have the situation
in control beyond the fact that the pigeons are not at risk or a threat. In fact, over 150 species of birds have been reported with WN virus, so the virus is very widespread. The best way to control the
disease is to control the biting insects.
Map of reports of WN Virus in the US |
