Still, some health experts fear there could be human cases this year, in part because New York City has to build its mosquito-control program from scratch. That is changing now in response to the new flying threats, says Julie Rawlings of the Texas Department of Health. In Texas, a test to detect the West Nile Virus will be added to the battery of mosquito-borne diseases for which state labs already test. Even California is watching for West Nile Virus, says entomologist Vicki Kramer, chief of the state health department's Vector-Borne Disease Section. Anything that turns up positive for St. Louis will also be tested for West Nile.
Birds can fly.
I'm not saying it's likely, but it's important to expand the surveillance network. Bathing Suit Season will be here before you know it.