DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY To: Texas Municipalities From: Gabriel L. Hamer, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology Date: 17 April 2013 Subject: Dead bird surveillance for West Nile virus The Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University is offering the diagnostic service for a dead-bird surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) in Texas. Citizen-recovered dead-bird monitoring has been used across the U.S. as an early warning system to predict when and where human risk of exposure to WNV is greatest. Here are some benefits of implementing dead-bird surveillance: 1. In the absence of the infrastructure needed to conduct mosquito-based surveillance, dead bird reporting and recovery with citizen assistance can be an efficient way to monitor the WNV enzootic cycle. 2. Long-term data shows that WNV infection in mosquitoes is not always correlated with human exposure to WNV. Through a number of mechanisms, the location and frequency of birds dying of WNV could be a more direct measure of human risk. 3. The location of birds dying of WNV can be targeted for vector control because bird movement prior to death is limited which could increase in the number of infected Culex mosquitoes in the vicinity. 4. Engaging the public to seek assistance with a dead bird surveillance program is a good way to raise awareness of WNV and increase cooperation to achieve fewer larval mosquito habitats. To accomplish this program, cooperation from multiple agencies and citizens will be necessary. Municipalities that conduct dead-bird surveillance will alert citizens to this program by websites and other media. Only dead birds in good condition (no obvious decomposition, ants, or maggots) should be accepted and should be kept cold or frozen as soon as possible, depending on speed of shipment. Many bird species are of interest, but we will exclude large birds such as ducks, geese, and wading birds due to their size. Local municipalities, or other agencies, will be responsible for collecting birds, gathering data, and storing birds in prior to submission to TAMU. Shipping procedures follow Biological Substance, Category B protocols are included in the attachment. Birds will be processed in a Biosafety Level 2 Laboratory and tested for WNV using RT-PCR. The results of WNV testing for each dead bird will be provided to submitting agencies within one week of receiving the birds. Multiple samples from each bird will be tested for a comprehensive assessment of virus presence (blood, kidney, heart, and/or brain). The fees associated with testing the birds will be $40 per individual bird. Invoices can be prepared and delivered after the diagnostic services have been delivered. The municipalities will be responsible for organizing the collection of dead birds (citizen delivered or otherwise) and shipping or transporting the birds to TAMU. Municipalities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex will be given highest priority for participating in this program due to the high levels of enzootic activity in 2012. The TAMU Lab will only be able to process about 500 birds this summer, so participation in this program is limited. Birds will be accepted from May to September, 2013, with the possibility for this service to continue in future years depending on interest. All inquiries or requests to join this program can be made to: Gabriel L. Hamer, PhD ghamer@tamu.edu 979-862-4067 Minnie Belle Heep 2475 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-2475 Tel. 979.845.2516 Fax 979.845.6305 entomain@ag.tamu.edu http://insects.tamu.edu
Dead Bird Surveillance Program Only dead birds in good condition will be accepted (died within 24 hrs, no obvious decomposition, ants, or maggots) and should be shipped on ice packs or dry ice, depending on the timeframe. Many bird species are of interest but we will exclude large birds such as ducks, geese, and wading birds due to their size. If a bird is a candidate for WNV testing, the bird will be collected, double bagged, sealed, and transported to a local participating municipality by the citizen or a representative from the municipality. For each dead bird the following information should be recorded (Dead Bird Submission Form Appendix A): Citizen Name, Phone number, Email, and Home Address Bird condition Date and Time found Address or location Health and Safety Precautions Citizen participation is voluntary, and at one s own risk. All municipalities should discuss proper biosafety practices and PPE use with their employees involved in collection, storage, and transfer of dead birds. The following precautions should be taken when handling dead birds to reduce risk of exposure. In general, the risk of infection can be eliminated if contamination of mucous membranes, eyes, and skin by dead bird materials is avoided, as outlined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the following safety precautions: Undamaged, disposable, impermeable gloves should be worn to place dead birds directly into a plastic bag. If gloves are not available, a double-plastic bag barrier or a shovel can be used to put the bird into a plastic bag. If the carcass is in a wet environment, or in any situation where splashing or aerosolization of viral particles is likely to occur while handling the bird, safety goggles and a surgical mask should be worn to protect mucous membranes from splashing dead bird particles. If working in a confined space, avoid any activities that create airborne particles. For storage, birds should be double-bagged using ziplock or plastic bags, and placed in a cool location until pickup or delivery to appropriate authorities. Carcasses should not be held in close contact with food. After handling any dead bird, do not touch your face, or anyone else, with gloved or unwashed hands. All Personal Protective Equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses, or mask, should be discarded or disinfected when done, and then hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. Alcohol-based hang gels are acceptable when soap and water are unavailable. If using a mask, discard of gloves and wash hands before removal. Although handling infected birds is unlikely to lead to infection, persons who develop an influenza-like illness after handling sick or dead birds should seek medical attention. Their health care provider should report the incident to public health agencies if clinical symptoms or laboratory test results indicate possible H5N1 or WNV infection. Dead Bird Storage If birds can be shipped to TAMU for WNV diagnostics within 36 hours of collection, they should be stored on wet ice or in a refrigerator. When this short timeline is not possible, they should be frozen immediately. Each municipality should have a designated space to store dead birds until shipment or delivery. Birds should have a tag on the bird or a label on the bag written with permanent marker to match each bird with the appropriate submission form. It is important to note that repeated freezing/thawing should be avoided as it reduces diagnostic testing accuracy. Instruction for Avian Carcass Shipment and Delivery Shipping diagnostic specimens requires 3 layers of protection inside a styrofoam cooler with outer cardboard sleeves. The use of ice packs or dry ice during shipment depends on the timeframe between collection and shipment. If multiple birds are being shipped in one package, ensure that each bird can be uniquely identified for the associated data. Packages should be shipped by overnight courier Monday-Thursday. All shipments should have a hard copy of the Specimen Submission Form.
Quick shipment of dead birds on ice packs For birds that have not been frozen and are being shipped within 36 hours of collection. Double-bagged birds should be placed into a 3rd heavy duty garbage bag containing ice packs and absorbent material such as paper towels. The outer garbage bag should be tied in a knot or sealed with duct tape. Place the bags in a styrofoam-lined cardboard box and sealed with packaging tape. Shipment of frozen birds If the bird has been frozen for storage, the carcass must be shipped on dry ice. Procedures are the same as above but ice packs would be replaced with dry ice. Package Labeling: Attach the information below to the outside of each package. Shippers Address: City of BLANK BLANK, TX XXXXX Recipient Address: Gabriel Hamer Lab Department of Entomology Texas A&M University TAMU 2475 College Station, TX 77843 Emergency contact: Supplementary labels: Dr. Gabriel Hamer 979-862-4067 Keep Cold Finally, mark the package with the appropriate information below. This label must be present in letters at least 6 mm high and must be marked on the outer package adjacent to a diamond-shaped UN3373 label. BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE, CATEGORY B and UN 3373 (page 6) If being shipped on dry ice, the Class 9 label (graphic on page 6), UN1845, is needed. Notification of shipment: Each time a package is shipped, an e-mail notification should be sent to Andrew Golnar (agolnar@tamu.edu) and Gabe Hamer (ghamer@tamu.edu) containing the Submission Forms and a package tracking number.
Appendix A: Texas Avian Mortality WNV Surveillance Specimen Submission Form To report/collect dead birds for the WNV Avian Mortality Surveillance program, adhere to the following precautions, record all available information, and deliver to the appropriate authority within your municipality. Only dead birds in good condition will be accepted (no obvious trauma, decomposition, ants, or maggots). Health and Safety Precautions for Carcass Collection: Citizen participation is voluntary, and at one s own risk. The following precautions must be taken when handling dead birds to reduce risk of exposure to an infectious agent. Always use disposable, impermeable gloves when handling birds. If disposable gloves are not available, use the inverted double-plastic bag technique for picking up carcasses or use a shovel to scoop the bird into a plastic bag. If the carcass is in a wet environment, or in any situation where splashing of dead bird particles is likely while handling the bird, safety goggles and a surgical mask should be worn to protect mucous membranes. If working in a confined space, avoid any activities that create airborne particles Before delivery for testing, birds should be double bagged, sealed with duct tape, and frozen or placed in a cool area before delivery to appropriate authorities. Carcasses should not be held in close contact with food. After handling any dead bird, do not touch your face, or anyone else, with gloved or unwashed hands. Materials that come in contact with the birds should be discarded. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dead Bird Submission Form Submitter s name: Telephone: E-mail: Address: Specimen condition: Frozen Fresh (Box for Official use only) Collector s Name: Affiliation: Citizen WNV Taskforce Collector s Address: Telephone: E-mail: Date collected: Time collected: Method of animal collection: Found Dead, Other (explain) Collection Condition: Dead less than 24 hrs Specific die-off location (residential yard, pond, sidewalk, park, forest, etc.): Address: Closest Intersection: State: County: Nearest City: Comments: (Additional information/observations of value such as past occurrences of disease in area, photographs and videos)
UN337 BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES, CATEGORY B EXEMPT ANIMAL SPECIMENS UN1845 Dry Ice Net Weight: