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 |
| |
*Abbreviations: SIADH - Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
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