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West Nile Virus Brochure

Surveillance Plan for West Nile Virus in Hawaii

Live Bird Surveillance

The Department of Transportation traps birds so they won't get caught in the plane engines in and around most of the islands airports. With the help of collaborating partners, these live birds are tested for WNV. If infected mosquitoes come into Hawaii on planes or ships some of the first birds they would infect might be around the ports of entry and airports. The live birds that are tested for WNV are those that would get infected and survive the infection. These infected birds would develop antibodies to WNV which show up in their blood samples.

Live bird testing is done at Honolulu airport, Hickham Airfield, Kahului Airport, on Maui, on Kauai and testing will begin on the Big Island at Hilo Airport when staffing permits. Future plans include testing birds at Kona airport. All live birds tested in Hawaii, so far, have been negative for WNV.

ELISA = Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (a test for WNV antibodies in blood)

To date all live birds have tested NEGATIVE for West Nile Virus.

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