ASU Study Suggests Migrating Birds Didn't Bring West Nile
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Researchers at Arkansas State University
say that West Nile virus was not brought to the state by birds
migrating in the spring.
The study tested hundreds of birds and samples of mosquitos.
Biology professor Jim Bednarz said the study is aimed at finding
out how the West Nile virus spreads from animals to humans in
Arkansas, particularly in the Delta. The virus is spread from
mosquitos to birds.
The research showed that the birds did not have the virus when
they arrived in Arkansas. Now Bednarz said the theory is that the
birds possibly acquire West Nile in Arkansas and take it somewhere
else or the birds get it here and it remains here.
Funding for the study came from the Arkansas Biosciences
Institute.
