Contact: , American Bird Conservancy, 202/234-7181 ext. 207
, American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Tel: (301) 562-0777 ext. 252

Conservation Groups Fund Research for West Nile Virus Vaccine

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), and the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), and its members have teamed up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases to develop an avian vaccine for prevention of the West Nile virus in birds. The study will test the efficacy of a new vaccine that was developed by CDC, which has already shown to be effective in preventing disease in horses. The Walt Disney Foundation, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo, the Houston Zoo, and Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo, all accredited members of the AZA, have contributed funds to the project.

West Nile virus, which was first identified in the U.S. in New York in 1999, is transmitted by mosquitoes and is a threat to both humans and birds. In just two years it has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of birds from over 70 species, many of these in captive breeding facilities and zoos in the northeast United States. In 2000 alone, the Bronx Zoo lost five species of birds to the virus. Although the majority of WN virus infected wild birds documented have been crows and urban-dwelling species, other more ecologically sensitive species such as warblers, thrushes and eagles have been infected and have died in significant numbers. Spraying pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes thus far has shown to be ineffective in controlling or preventing outbreaks of WN virus in birds. The chemicals used are often toxic to birds and the ecosystems in which they live, further compounding the risks of WN virus, according to the American Bird Conservancy's Pesticides and Birds Campaign.

Some of the world’s rarest birds are bred in captivity in the U.S. as part of endangered/threatened species reintroduction programs and experts fear that the spread of WN virus could decimate these invaluable populations. Since the 1980’s AZA members have cooperatively managed and bred many endangered and threatened species such as the California Condor and Thick-billed Parrot as part of their Species Survival Plans (SSPs).

In 1984, an outbreak of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a close relative of WN virus, was responsible for the deaths of seven of the 39 endangered Whooping Cranes at the government-run Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland. Further deaths were only prevented by use of a vaccine, and biologists need to be armed with just such a solution for future outbreaks of West Nile. Two birds infected with WN virus have been found in Maryland this year.

Initially the trials will seek to identify an injectable vaccine for use in captive birds. However, if successful, it could also be used on select populations of endangered wild birds e.g., California Condors. If the vaccine can be effectively administered orally, it is possible that large numbers of urban-dwelling birds could be immunized at feeding stations.

This is a novel approach to controlling a disease and if successful will provide a method for disease control that will have worldwide implications. The American Bird Conservancy, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and their partners are committed to identifying new ways to control disease in bird populations while preserving the environment.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. The fundamental role of ABC is to build coalitions of conservation groups, scientists, and members of the public, to tackle key bird priorities using the best resources available.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association was founded in 1924 and currently represents 196 accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. AZA’s mission is to support membership excellence in conservation, education, science and recreation.