west nile virus in moses lake mallard

[Dustin07]

what does this mean for humans? can you cook it out?

I remember with crows the symptoms were supposed to be pretty obvious but I don't know any further on waterfowl.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012956021_apwawestnilevirus.html?syndication=rss
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West Nile virus found in waterfowl at Moses Lake
The Washington Health Department says the first birds in the state to test positive this season for West Nile virus were a mallard duck and a white pelican at the North Potholes Game Reserve near Moses Lake.

The Associated Press

Related
OLYMPIA, Wash. —
The Washington Health Department says the first birds in the state to test positive this season for West Nile virus were a mallard duck and a white pelican at the North Potholes Game Reserve near Moses Lake.

The department says the virus has never been found before in these migratory birds in Washington.

The birds were picked up by state wildlife agents investigating an unusual number of deaths at the reserve. The virus was confirmed in testing at the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center at Madison, Wisc.

Last year was the state's most active for West Nile virus with numerous confirmations in birds, horses and mosquitoes. There also were 38 human infections and the state's first death.

[Curly]

I had WNV in 2008.  The headaches were terrible and was so tired all the time.....it was nasty.  Took the docs forever to figure it out too.  I also had watery eyes for several months and then an eye infection that kept recurring for about 18 months.  I hate those blood sucking Mosquitos now.

I doubt it would hurt to eat an infected duck as long as you cook it like normal........

I think the main lesson from the finding of the virus in birds is that it is likely that WNV is spreading and will become more and more common in the future.......so everyone should be using some sort of mosquito repellent and make sure to use Advantix or something that will prevent mosquito bites on your dogs.

[ducks55]

I think that the infected ones will be dead by the time the season starts and by that time the skeeters aren't really out anymore to effect any other birds. It should be fine, but say there are still some infected birds, I'm pretty sure it would cook out, at the most you'd end up with an upset stomach if it didn't cook out because it really wont get into your bloodstream as rapidly as a bite from a mosquito.

[Dustin07]

Interesting. I wonder what all it takes to 'cook it out'. I don't like my meat 'well done'.

[h2ofowlr]

I make a lot of pepperoni.  I don't know if it gets hot enough to cook it out.   

[dirty24d]

I wouldnt worry to much about transmission of the virus through consumption of the meat unless you are eating it raw..  I'm not a doctor but i would say slim to impossible to get the virus through properly cooked game. that being said if the bird looks sick i wouldnt consume it.    my