"paghat" wrote in message
news
Though there is no possibility of dead birds per se infecting anyone with
WNV, parasites on the bird just might be able to transfer the disease. It
is believed the disease reaching certain hawk populations because of a
tendency to scavenge dead birds & having infected bloodsucking parasites
transfer to a new host. Humans get it from mosquitos & mosquitos can
transfer it from any number of mammals or birds to humans. So though I
don't think it has been studied, it's at least a credible hypothesis that
contact with infected parasites could provide a mild threat to humans.
There are several other zoonotic diseases for which parasites are
intermediate carriers.


Please provide the source of the info about parasites (other than mosquitos)
transmitting WNV in hawk populations. I believe there are 36 species of
mosquito in the US known to carry WNV but have not yet seen mention of other
parasites.
Thanks.

karen