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New theory contends biting flies may carry West Nile
By MIKE STARK
Of The Gazette Staff
It may not be just mosquitoes to worry about in transmitting West Nile virus.
More than 2,500 American white pelicans have died in northeast Montana since 2003, and a Montana State University scientist suspects that biting flies may be partly to blame.
If so, it could mean another vector for West Nile and may prompt public health officials to change their approach to the virus.
"This adds a new wrinkle to it," said Greg Johnson, a veterinary entomologist at MSU. It's still too early to finger the biting bugs known as stable flies as the culprit, he said. Tests confirmed that some flies collected this summer from Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Plentywood had the virus. Researchers will return next year to look more closely at whether flies, which feed on pelicans there, pass it along to birds.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us before we nail it down," Johnson said.
full story:
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/10/03/news/state/18-nile.txt
By MIKE STARK
Of The Gazette Staff
It may not be just mosquitoes to worry about in transmitting West Nile virus.
More than 2,500 American white pelicans have died in northeast Montana since 2003, and a Montana State University scientist suspects that biting flies may be partly to blame.
If so, it could mean another vector for West Nile and may prompt public health officials to change their approach to the virus.
"This adds a new wrinkle to it," said Greg Johnson, a veterinary entomologist at MSU. It's still too early to finger the biting bugs known as stable flies as the culprit, he said. Tests confirmed that some flies collected this summer from Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Plentywood had the virus. Researchers will return next year to look more closely at whether flies, which feed on pelicans there, pass it along to birds.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us before we nail it down," Johnson said.
full story:
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/10/03/news/state/18-nile.txt
