MDA will establish flocks of chickens and will regularly draw blood specimens to monitor for virus activity. At this point there are no known adverse effects of WNV on commercially produced chickens or on fully cooked chicken food products. The blood samples from domesticated and wild birds will be sent for testing to the DHMH Laboratories Administration or to the National Wildlife Health Center. Tests may take several weeks to complete. Measures to protect exotic birds involve preventing mosquito exposures.
Horses are an important part of Maryland's economy.
It is important to alert veterinarians about WNV disease, and about how to test horses if WNV or other serious disease is suspected. DHMH and MDA will notify veterinarians about WNV infection in horses. The notification letter will tell veterinarians what kind of illness to look for, and how to test the horse for WNV or other serious viral infections. If a horse is suspected of having WNV infection, veterinarians will be asked to collect appropriate specimens. Results from testing of horse blood samples may take several weeks to complete.