Frequently Asked Questions about West Nile Virus

Q1. Can West Nile virus cause illness in horses?
Q2. Is there a treatment for horses?
Q3. Can I get West Nile virus from being around an infected horse?
Q4. Can West Nile virus cause illness in dogs and cats?
Q5. Can West Nile virus cause illness in birds?
Q6. Can I get West Nile virus by touching a dead bird?
Q7. What are animal handling precautions?
Q8. How do I dispose of a dead bird?
Q9. Can I get West Nile virus by eating infected birds?
10. Am I at risk for other diseases found in wildlife?

Horses can become ill from West Nile virus infection. Clinical signs of illness may vary and include any combination of the following: fever, weakness, listlessness, stumbling, and lack of co-ordination, muscle spasms, partial paralysis, or death. Smudges and sprays, and keeping horses stabled at night, might reduce exposures to mosquitoes.

For more information on West Nile virus in horses please visit the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture Web site.

For more information on West Nile virus infection in horses and other animals please visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Web site.

Q2. Is there a treatment for horses?

The main treatment is veterinary care and supportive therapy to reduce the severity of symptoms. A West Nile virus vaccine is available from licensed veterinarians to prevent West Nile virus infection and associated disease in horses. For more information contact your veterinarian.

Q3. Can I get West Nile virus from being around an infected horse?

There have been no documented cases of horse-to-person transmission or horse-to-horse transmission. Normal disease control precautions should be followed when caring for a horse suspected to have West Nile virus or any other infection.

Q4. Can West Nile virus cause illness in dogs and cats?

Evidence would suggest that it is possible, but the rate of infection and disease appears extremely low. If a dog or cat becomes ill, the main treatment is veterinary care and supportive therapy to reduce the severity of symptoms. Currently there is no vaccine against West Nile virus for dogs and cats.

Q5. Can West Nile virus cause illness in birds?

West Nile virus can cause illness in birds. It has been identified in more than 150 species of wild birds, cage birds and zoo birds. Sick birds may show signs of brain infection, such as paralysis, depression, tremors, weakness and death. The main treatment is supportive therapy to reduce the severity of symptoms and prevent secondary bacterial infections.

In New Brunswick, please report dead birds (crows, ravens, blue jays and gray jays) to the West Nile Virus Information Line at 1-800-580-0038. For information on reporting dead birds, see Q.8 "How do I dispose of a dead bird?".

There is no evidence to suggest that a person can get the virus from handling live or dead infected birds. However, infected birds often shed large amounts of virus. Persons should avoid bare-handed contact when handling any sick or dead bird and follow proper animal handling precautions to help prevent disease transmission. For more information on disposal guidelines for dead birds, view "How do I dispose of a dead bird?".

Animals, including wildlife, can have many different diseases. Some of these can affect both people and animals. It is important to be aware and always take the following precautions whenever handling animals to reduce the risk of disease transmission. This applies to both live and dead animals.

Follow animal handling precautions:

• Use good hygiene practices. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol gel cleanser after handling animals, and especially before handling food.
• Wear waterproof gloves (rubber, vinyl, latex) to prevent skin contact.
• Wear appropriate protective clothing like coveralls, boots and glasses when handling animals.
• Prevent contact of bare skin with animal feces, body fluids (for example blood, urine, and saliva), body tissues like the brain, and external parasites.
• Prevent animal bites and scratches from teeth, claws, or beak.

Q8. How do I dispose of a dead bird?

For safe disposal of dead birds, follow these guidelines.

• Do not touch the carcass with bare hands. Ensure that you and your clothing do not contact the carcass or its blood, secretions or feces. Wear protective clothing, which can be removed after handling the wild animal and properly cleaned and disinfected.
• The carcass should be handled wearing disposable waterproof gloves (latex or rubber) or heavy-duty leak-proof rubber gloves (such as used in house cleaning). These gloves should be worn even if using heavier gloves for protection against bites and claws. If gloves are not available, several leak-proof plastic bags may also be used as a glove.
• Wearing gloves (or several leak-proof plastic bags), grasp the dead bird with your hand inside several leak-proof plastic bags. Turn the bags inside-out over the bird so it ends up inside the bags, with your hand on the outside. Handle the bird so that beak or claws do not puncture bag or gloves.
• Place the bagged carcass inside a single leak-proof plastic bag and tightly seal. Place the sealed bag inside a second single leak-proof plastic bag and tightly seal. The carcass is now "double-bagged".
• Wash your gloved hands and then wash your bare hands following handling of the bird. Hands should be thoroughly washed for at least five minutes using a disinfecting soap and hot water.
• Dead birds that are "double-bagged" can be incinerated, buried several feet deep in a place that will not be disturbed, or placed in domestic garbage for disposal at a sanitary landfill that accepts animal carcasses. Do not dispose of them in a manner that will require other people to handle them.

There is no evidence that West Nile virus can be transmitted to people by eating infected birds or other animals. To prevent the risk of potential food-borne disease agents, always cook meat thoroughly before eating it. Hunters should wear gloves and protective clothing while handling or cleaning game birds and waterfowl to reduce diseases that could be transmitted from birds to humans. For more information on preventing West Nile virus, view West Nile Virus - Reduce the Risk.

Wild animals can have many different diseases. Some of these can affect both people and wildlife. It is important to be aware and take precautions to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

• Thoroughly cook all meat, including game meat and fish.
• Do not drink from untreated surface water sources.
• Follow animal handling precautions.
• Use proper field dressing procedures.
• Be aware of wildlife diseases.