Florida zoos protect animals from West Nile
Thursday, August 15, 2002
MIAMI (Daytona Beach News-Journal) -- Florida zoos are taking measures to protect their animals from West Nile virus as the mosquito-borne disease spreads to animals and humans throughout the South and elsewhere.
Disney's Animal Kingdom, Busch Gardens, the Miami Metrozoo and Lion County Safari in Palm Beach County have given some of their animals a horse vaccine to protect them from the disease.
The year-old vaccine was conditionally approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for horses only but Miami Metrozoo gave it to some of its most prized birds. Fifty pink flamingos have gotten the vaccine, along with some condors and harpy eagles, zoo officials said.
As long as it was available, the zoo figured "it was worth a try," said Metrozoo veterinary technician Jacky Shaw.
Lion County Safari is giving vaccinations this week to its white rhinos and tapirs, both of which are related to horses, and its birds might be next, staff veterinarian Rose Borkowski said.
Jacksonville Zoological Gardens gave the vaccine to its zebras, tapirs and rhinos, spokeswoman Angie Lindsey said. She said the zoo's veterinarians consider these hooved animals close enough biologically to horses for the vaccine.
Studies are evaluating the vaccine's effect on other animals but nothing has been determined, said Dominic Travis, epidemiologist for Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.
At Tampa's Busch Gardens, the vaccine was used on the park's seven horses. The park has been working with the state to eliminate standing water, where mosquitos breed, and periodically tests its birds, spokesman Gerard Hoeppner said.
"While we don't believe West Nile is a threat here, we're being vigilant and we're monitoring mosquito control," Hoeppner said.
Disney's Animal Kingdom has vaccinated its horses, which number more than 100, and has been spraying to ward off mosquitos, spokeswoman Rena Callahan said. Its birds have been given blood tests.
Another method to fight mosquitos is to employ the help of hungry fish and bacteria.
Parrot Jungle in Miami has many fish, including the mosquito larve-eating gambusia, in its water to chow down on the pests before they start pestering people, said Jeff Shimonski, director of horticulture. They also drop a special bacteria called "mosquito dunks" into small pockets of water to kill the larvae.
Parrot Jungle has been spraying for mosquitos every morning for more than 20 years, excluding winter when they are scarce, Shimonski said. This shields their exotic birds and monkeys from other mosquito-spread diseases like malaria. The fogger spray isn't harmful to humans, animals or plants, he said.
None of the zoos have reported any animals or visitors contracting West Nile virus.
Meanwhile, a 71-year-old Sumter County man was recovering at home from encephalitis caused by the West Nile virus. He is the first Floridian identified with the disease this year.
State health officials confirmed the man has the disease and said he is believed to have gotten it while in Louisiana, where seven people have died from the disease.
State health officials didn't identify the man, but The Villages Daily Sun newspaper said he is James Murphy and carried an interview with him Wednesday.
"I've had heart surgery and shoulder surgery but nothing like this," Murphy told the newspaper. "This is brutal." He said he lost 30 pounds.
Thursday, August 15, 2002
MIAMI (Daytona Beach News-Journal) -- Florida zoos are taking measures to protect their animals from West Nile virus as the mosquito-borne disease spreads to animals and humans throughout the South and elsewhere.
Disney's Animal Kingdom, Busch Gardens, the Miami Metrozoo and Lion County Safari in Palm Beach County have given some of their animals a horse vaccine to protect them from the disease.
The year-old vaccine was conditionally approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for horses only but Miami Metrozoo gave it to some of its most prized birds. Fifty pink flamingos have gotten the vaccine, along with some condors and harpy eagles, zoo officials said.
As long as it was available, the zoo figured "it was worth a try," said Metrozoo veterinary technician Jacky Shaw.
Lion County Safari is giving vaccinations this week to its white rhinos and tapirs, both of which are related to horses, and its birds might be next, staff veterinarian Rose Borkowski said.
Jacksonville Zoological Gardens gave the vaccine to its zebras, tapirs and rhinos, spokeswoman Angie Lindsey said. She said the zoo's veterinarians consider these hooved animals close enough biologically to horses for the vaccine.
Studies are evaluating the vaccine's effect on other animals but nothing has been determined, said Dominic Travis, epidemiologist for Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.
At Tampa's Busch Gardens, the vaccine was used on the park's seven horses. The park has been working with the state to eliminate standing water, where mosquitos breed, and periodically tests its birds, spokesman Gerard Hoeppner said.
"While we don't believe West Nile is a threat here, we're being vigilant and we're monitoring mosquito control," Hoeppner said.
Disney's Animal Kingdom has vaccinated its horses, which number more than 100, and has been spraying to ward off mosquitos, spokeswoman Rena Callahan said. Its birds have been given blood tests.
Another method to fight mosquitos is to employ the help of hungry fish and bacteria.
Parrot Jungle in Miami has many fish, including the mosquito larve-eating gambusia, in its water to chow down on the pests before they start pestering people, said Jeff Shimonski, director of horticulture. They also drop a special bacteria called "mosquito dunks" into small pockets of water to kill the larvae.
Parrot Jungle has been spraying for mosquitos every morning for more than 20 years, excluding winter when they are scarce, Shimonski said. This shields their exotic birds and monkeys from other mosquito-spread diseases like malaria. The fogger spray isn't harmful to humans, animals or plants, he said.
None of the zoos have reported any animals or visitors contracting West Nile virus.
Meanwhile, a 71-year-old Sumter County man was recovering at home from encephalitis caused by the West Nile virus. He is the first Floridian identified with the disease this year.
State health officials confirmed the man has the disease and said he is believed to have gotten it while in Louisiana, where seven people have died from the disease.
State health officials didn't identify the man, but The Villages Daily Sun newspaper said he is James Murphy and carried an interview with him Wednesday.
"I've had heart surgery and shoulder surgery but nothing like this," Murphy told the newspaper. "This is brutal." He said he lost 30 pounds.