Surveillance for WNV in Dead Wild Birds | CDC EID

EID Journal Home > Volume 17, Number 2–February 2011

Volume 17, Number 2–February 2011
Dispatch
Surveillance for West Nile Virus in Dead Wild Birds, South Korea, 2005–2008
Jung-Yong Yeh, Hyun-Ju Kim, Jin-Ju Nah, Hang Lee, Young-Jun Kim, Jin-San Moon, In-Soo Cho, In-Soo Choi, Chang-Seon Song, and Joong-Bok Lee

Author affiliations: National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (J.-Y. Yeh, H-J. Kim, J.-J. Nah, J.-S. Moon, I.-S. Cho); Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea (H. Lee, Y.-J. Kim); and Konkuk University, Seoul (I.-S. Choi, C.-S.Song, J.-B. Lee)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
To investigate the possibility of West Nile virus (WNV) introduction into South Korea, the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service has conducted nationwide surveillance of WNV activity in dead wild birds since 2005. Surveillance conducted during 2005–2008 found no evidence of WNV activity.

Wild birds are considered the principal hosts of West Nile virus (WNV). In the United States, surveillance of birds for WNV is used to quickly detect outbreaks and take action against its spread. The sampling of sick or dead birds can indicate WNV in a region before human and equine cases occur (1). This approach is considered the most effective method for detecting WNV in a specific region. During 1999, mass deaths among wild birds indicated the emergence and rapid spread of WNV in North America.

Although WNV has not yet been detected in South Korea, the perceived threat of its arrival has been highlighted by reports of WNV infection in a dead cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) in the Vladivostok region of Russia, which is adjacent to the Korean peninsula (2), and in several samples from cinereous vultures and cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) in the Russian Far Eastern Region during 2002–2004 (3). A variety of migratory birds, such as Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata), cinereous vultures, bean geese (Anser fabalis), and white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), fly from Russia to South Korea during the winter for the breeding season (4–6). Furthermore, Saito et al. recently reported that test results on several migrating birds captured in Japan were positive for flavivirus antibodies (7). This finding suggests that the threat of WNV in South Korea is increasing because many migratory birds share flyways over South Korea and Japan (8). Therefore, spread of the virus by migratory birds from WNV-infected areas, such as Russia, into uninfected hosts throughout the Korean peninsula is likely.

full-text:
Surveillance for WNV in Dead Wild Birds | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article
Yeh J-Y, Kim H-J, Nah J-J, Lee H, Kim Y-J, Moon J-S, et al. Surveillance for West Nile virus in dead wild birds, South Korea, 2005–2008. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Feb [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/2/299.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1702.100551


Comments to the Authors
Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Jung-Yong Yeh, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang 430-824, South Korea; email: yeh02@nvrqs.go.kr