BIRD DISEASES

The purpose of this link is to provide information, in layman's terms, about diseases that could be bird related.  As a person that feeds wild birds you can prevent further problems by ensuring your feeders, birdhouses, and birdbaths are clean; see Bird and Bat Information under Cleaning. 

Many diseases involving birds do not kill the birds directly, but instead the bird acts as the "Birdge" or "Reservoir".  A vector, such as a mosquito or tick, transmits the disease to a human or animal.  Another way some of these diseases are spread is by coming in contact with feces of an infected Reservoir.   

If you see a bird at your feeder or birdbath that seem lathargic or is not moving or eating very well most likely he has one of several diseases most likely caused by not cleaning your birdfeeders and birdbaths properly, or worse not at all. 

There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from many of these mosquito transmitted diseases. 

• Apply mosquito repellents containing DEET often in summer months
• Keep your immune system strong by eating and hydrating properly.  For more on this talk to your medical doctor.  The majority of people dying from many of these diseases have comprised immune systems.
• Create an Organic Eco-System attracting lots of birds & bats.  Birds & bats eat lots of insects while spraying your properties for insect control MAY be more hazerdous to your health then getting bit by a mosquito.  To find out more how to create such an Eco-System see Consulting.

Below is a list of diseases that may effect you, someone you know, or a pet.  The data in the table below is from  http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic393.htm.

Virus (Family) Vector Reservoir Distribution Mortality Rate Specific Clinical Patterns Sequelae Season Eastern equine encephalitis (alphavirus) Aedes sollicitans (mosquito) Birds Eastern and Gulf US, Caribbean 35% Severe, rapid progression Common, especially in children June to October Western equine encephalitis (alphavirus) Culex tarsalis (mosquito) Birds Western US 10% Classic encephalitis Moderate in infants; low in others July to October Venezuelan encephalitis (alphavirus) Mosquito species Horses, small mammals South/Central America ~ 0.4 % Low rate (4%) of CNS involvement Mild Rainy season St. Louis encephalitis (flavivirus) Culex pipiens, C tarsalis (mosquito) Birds Widespread in US 2% young people; 20% elderly people *SIADH More in elderly people August  to October Japanese B encephalitis (flavivirus) Culex taenior-hynchus (mosquito) Birds Asia 33% (50% in elderly people) Extrapyramidal features 50% neuro psychiatric; parkinsonism Summer West Nile Virus (flavivirus) Culex, Aedes species (mosquito) Birds Africa, Asia, Europe, USA In US: 12% (elderly people only) Motor/brainstem involvement Usually not prominent Summer Far East tick-borne encephalitis (flavivirus) Ixodes persulcatus (tick) Small mammals, birds Former eastern Russia 20% Epilepsia partialis continua Frequent; residual weakness Spring- early summer Central European tick-borne encephalitis (flavivirus) Ixodes ricinus (tick) Small mammals, birds Central Europe Less common than in Far East Limb-girdle paralysis (spine/medulla) Less common than in Far East April to October Powassan encephalitis (flavivirus) Ixodes cookei (tick) Small mammals, birds Canada, northern US High Severe encephalitis Common (50%) May to Dec. Dengue fever (flavivirus) Aedes species (mosquito) Mosquitoes Tropics Low, except hemorrhagic Flulike syndrome; rare CNS involvement Mild, except for hemorrhagic Rainy season La Crosse encephalitis (bunyavirus) Aedes triseriatus (mosquito) Small mammals Central US Low (<1%) Mild, primarily in children Mild; seizures Summer Colorado tick fever (orbivirus) Dermacentor andersoni (tick) Small mammals US, Rocky Mountains area Low   Mild