Detection of West Nile virus in wild birds in Tana River and Garissa Counties, Kenya
BMC Infectious Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12879-016-2019-8
- PMID
- 27881079
- PMCID
- PMC5121970
- OpenAlex
- W2554525067
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The findings confirm active WNV circulation in wild bird reservoirs in this region, indicating spillover risk to human populations. The authors recommend implementing surveillance programs to map virus distribution and raising awareness to improve detection and management of West Nile fever.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study aimed to identify West Nile virus reservoirs among wild bird populations in Tana River and Garissa counties, Kenya.
Study design
Cross-sectional survey using real-time PCR screening of blood samples from randomly trapped wild birds. Positive samples underwent sequencing and regression analysis to examine factors associated with WNV occurrence.
Population and setting
Three hundred sixty-one wild birds trapped in Tana River and Garissa counties, Kenya.
Main findings
Sixty-five of 361 birds (18%) tested positive for WNV by real-time PCR. Sequencing showed the detected strains were closely related to isolates from China in 2011. Sampling location influenced WNV occurrence, while bird species, age, weight, and sex did not.
Public-health relevance
The findings confirm active WNV circulation in wild bird reservoirs in this region, indicating spillover risk to human populations. The authors recommend implementing surveillance programs to map virus distribution and raising awareness to improve detection and management of West Nile fever.
Important limitations
This summary relies on the supplied abstract and bibliographic metadata only. Full interpretation of study limitations, sampling methodology, diagnostic validation, and clinical or policy implications requires review of the complete published article.
GIDS interpretation
This article is discoverable through the GIDS classifier links for West Nile virus, Kenya, and surveillance-related topics. It provides baseline data on WNV circulation in wild birds in two Kenyan counties and suggests the need for systematic surveillance, but does not constitute evidence of an active outbreak or public health event requiring immediate response.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 8 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.