Test Results as of 8/10/00
- To date, 560 crows have been accepted for testing by
the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services'
Public Health and Environmental Laboratory. A total of 89
crows -- 37 found in Bergen, 19 in Middlesex, 9 in Union, 9
in Hudson, 10 in Passaic, 2 in Monmouth and 3 in Essex
Counties -- have tested positive for the presence of the
WNV. At least one crow sample has been submitted from all
21 New Jersey counties.
- A cockatiel, found in Monmouth County on July 3 and
taken to a veterinary hospital on Staten Island July 5, has
tested positive for the presence of the WNV. It is
important to note that the cockatiel was found in the wild,
apparently abandoned by, or escaped from its owner and
existed out of doors for an undetermined period of time.
When found, the bird seemed to be in good condition, but
became ill approximately 5 days later and died on July 16.
Given the limited information available, it is not possible
to determine where or when it became infected with WNV.
- 608 blood samples taken from sentinel chicken flocks
placed in all 21 counties and 525 mosquito pools collected
in every county, have all tested negative for WNV.
- Blood and/or spinal fluid samples from 34 residents
have been or are in the process of being examined using
either the St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) screening test or a
test for WNV itself. The SLE test can be conducted by
private laboratories for residents with conditions that do
not fully meet established WNV testing criteria. Since SLE
and WNV are closely related viruses, a WNV case will most
likely react to a SLE test. To date, all SLE tests have
been negative. Of the specimens tested specifically for
WNV, two have tested negative and others are still pending.
