THE bird virus that killed seven New Yorkers last year has now spread all
over the Americas, say US researchers. They warn that the Gulf coast of the US
will probably see the next outbreak of West Nile virus.
Despite the threat, authorities in the US have so far failed to provide the
research funding to keep tabs on the virus in wild birds. The scientists say
that scrupulous monitoring of bird populations is needed, otherwise it won’t be
possible to identify and spray high-risk areas with insecticide to kill the
mosquitoes that transmit the virus to people.
The infection…
