In response to late breaking information provided to us by CDC and the New York State Health Department on Friday evening (September 24, 1999) regarding the ongoing Saint Louis Encephalitis outbreak in New York City, it was necessary to contact the local health officers in the 8 northeastern counties over the weekend to brief them and, in some instances, ask for assistance. The essence of the message is contained in a press release dated September 25, 1999 which can be found on the Department's website at www.state.nj.us/health.

On Friday, CDC announced that it had isolated and identified a West Nile-like virus from birds, including a wild crow, that died in New York City and Westchester County, New York. Today, New York State Health Commissioner Antonia Novello is announcing that, to date, 37 New York State residents are laboratory positive for West Nile-like virus. A number of these individuals were once thought to be positive for Saint Louis Encephalitis, but after further laboratory analysis, this was not the case.

Because domestic bird die-offs may be related to infection with West Nile-like virus (birds are a reservoir of this virus), reports of these unusual occurrences serve as a useful surveillance tool. That is why we asked the general public to notify us of these events over the weekend and to identify a subset that may be suitable for laboratory analysis. The Department received a good number of calls with the majority of sightings being reported from Bergen County. Working with the local health departments in the various counties, arrangements are being made to deliver those specimens suitable for testing to our Public Health Laboratory. After the bird tissue specimens are prepared by our laboratory, they will be shipped to CDC's Fort Collins laboratory for analyses.

The following specific guidance is being provided regarding dead bird sightings:

• The Department is no longer encouraging the public to report dead crow sightings. If local health departments receive reports from citizens, we are asking that you log the incident for possible future reference. Your log should capture the following information: name, address and phone number of citizen; time and date of sighting; type of bird; and personal observations of the bird's behavior, if applicable.

• The Department is carefully screening all candidate specimens. Only those cleared by our Infectious and Zoonotic Disease Program should be submitted for analysis.

• The public should be advised not to touch the dead crow or other bird with bare hands. Using a shovel or gloves, they should place the dead animal in a double bag before discarding in the general trash.

• There may be areas of the state where we might want additional information or additional specimens. We will work directly with the health officers in those areas to address any outstanding surveillance needs.

• The information contained in this bulletin should be shared with the animal control officer and police/public safety department in your community since they are a source of information to the community and will undoubtedly have an interest in this matter.

It is important to stress that there have been no confirmed cases of West Nile-like virus in humans or birds in New Jersey. Additionally, New Jersey's network of county mosquito control commissions has increased their mosquito surveillance efforts and report that mosquito populations remain at very low levels. At this juncture, the most important public health intervention is public education and outreach addressing the following points:

• Eliminate local sources of stagnant water where mosquitos breed (clogged rain gutters, neglected backyard swimming pools, old tires, etc.)

• When outdoors, wear clothing that covers the skin such as long sleeve shirts and pants; spray clothing and exposed skin with insect repellant ( follow instructions!)

• Curb outside activity at dawn, dusk and during the evening; avoid mosquito habitats including areas with heavy underbrush.

As more information becomes available, we will share it with you. We will also do our very best to post as much information as possible on our website. The Department will also be communicating with Emergency Room staff and the Infection Control Practitioners of the hospitals to update them on this issue and remind them to immediately report any suspect cases to the Department.

Should you have any questions or require additional information, feel free to contact the Infectious and Zoonotic Disease Program at (609) 588-3121.