Bj”rn Forsstr”m (2:203/614.61) wrote to Steven Horn at 17:43 on 24 May 2003:

 SH> It is basically a disease of birds  but is carried to humans by Culex
 SH> mosquitoes.  Most people may not know they have it but 1 out every 150
 SH> gets very seriously ill with meningitis or polio-like symptoms.

 BF> That sounds bad. Luckily we don't have it here.

Don't assume it can't happen there.  So far it hasn't gotten this far north
but initially there was surprise that the disease had made it to North
America.

 BF> They don't bother birds but huge swarms have killed some deers.

The mosquitoes certainly bother caribou in the high Arctic.  Incidentally,
that is "deer".  Normally, there is no plural designation for the
animal. 

Take care,

Steven Horn (steven_a_horn{at}yahoo.ca)
Moderator, ALASKA_CHAT 
--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+