A Sheer Coincidence? Deliberately Released:

Wolbachia-Infected Mosquitoes + Red-Whiskered Bulbuls

Investigative Journalists: How About Asking the Experts?

Bill Gates is being asked about the next pandemic (even though he doesn't even have a degree in biology). And it seems the CBC is entirely avoiding the Zika topic. 

The press should be all over Drs. Constância F. J. Ayres, Walter S. Leal, Fiona Hunter, Michael Diamond, Amir Attaran, Peter Hotez, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (to name just a few).

The latest unpublicized study (hidden behind paywalls): Infection: A new threat on the horizon — Zika virus and male fertility by Andreas Meinhardt.

When I conducted a PubMed search of it, the abstract was blank.[1]

The same thing happened when I looked up the Arbovirus Survey in Wild Birds in Uganda by Okia, N.O. et al. The abstract has been entirely removed from the PubMed listing.

Numerous government health departments are also posting false information.

As mentioned in my article Birds as Reservoir Hosts of Zika: What You Are Not Being Told, below are just two screenshot examples (if you look, you will find more).

Fortunately, Scientists are Aware of the Facts

Why the Press Needs to Beat a Path to Dr. Hunter's Lab:

Credit: Screenshot of Brock University YouTube video "Dr. Fiona Hunter on Zika Virus" [Fair Use]Dr. Hunter works in the only level 3 containment lab with an insectary outside of the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg. Her credentials are vast and include:[2]

-A BSc in zoology from the University of Toronto
-An MSc in botany where she worked on black fly cytotaxonomy and systematics under the late Dr. Klaus Rothfels.
-Training at the Tropical Medicine Institute at the University of Tübingen in Germany where she studied parasitology and studied the role of black flies in the transmission of onchocerciasis (aka river blindness).
-A PhD in biology at Queen’s University under the co-supervision of Dr. Jim Sutcliffe, a black fly physiologist, and the late Dr. A. E. R. Downe, a mosquito physiologist. 

Clearly, Dr. Fiona Hunter would understand the role that Wolbachia plays in disease transmission. In fact, Wolbachia is responsible for the most widespread pandemics in the animal kingdom (LePage and Bordenstein, 2013).

January 23rd, 2017, An Email From a World-Class Scientist

I was amazed. On January 23rd, 2017, I received the following email from Dr. Fiona Hunter, medical and veterinary entomologist at Brock University. 

After I Read the Study, I Forwarded it to Cornell

As I researched this further, I became even more incensed by what our public health authorities (even the CDC) have been informing the public.

I wrote back to Dr. Hunter and the following scientists[8] at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Christopher Clark, senior scientist; André Dhondt, Director, Bird Population Studies; Daniel Fink, Sr Research Associate, Avian Knowledge Network; Aaron Rice, Science Director; Viviana Ruiz-Gutierrez, Quantitative Ecologist, and Daniel Salisbury, Research Analyst. 

Here is precisely what I wrote:

Dear Dr. Hunter, 

Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius)

Florida Used to Encourage Planting It as an Ornamental

Bulbuls Originated in the Forests of Africa and Asia

One Interloper in North America: Red-Whiskered Bulbul

After I Wrote That Letter, I Researched More

I wondered if Red-Whiskered Bulbuls are found elsewhere in the world. Here is what I discovered:

• Red-whiskered Bulbul lives in Tropical Asia from Pakistan and India, to southwest Asia and China. It has been introduced in Australia (New South Wales), Los Angeles, Mauritius and Florida.[3]
• The Red-whiskered Bulbul has established itself in Australia, Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Florida in the U.S. and in the Mauritius, Assumption Island and Mascarene Islands.[4]
• It was eradicated from Assumption Island in 2013 – 2015 to prevent colonisation of nearby Aldabra, the largest introduced bird-free tropical island.[4]
• It is now also found in suburban Melbourne and Adelaide, although it is unclear how they got there.[4]
• Red-whiskered Bulbul lives in open areas with bushes and scrubs, and second grows. It lives in thickets, near cultivated areas and gardens, and in big towns.[3] Again, this is confirmation that "forest-dwelling" birds is misleading.

Interestingly enough, I found a 2015 post titled Red-whiskered bulbul: Canberrans asked to be on the lookout for a feral bird species[5] which stated:

• The feral red-whiskered bulbul poses a serious threat to Australia's native plants and wildlife.
• The bulbul is considered an environmental pest as it competes with local native birds for food and nesting sites. It also contributes to the spread of many invasive weeds, including blackberry, lantana, and privet.

"In the ACT [Australian Capital Territory] it is illegal to keep or supply prohibited and notifiable pest species unless a special licence has been issued. Keeping or supplying a prohibited pest species can carry a fine of up to $7,500 for an individual or $37,000 for a corporation." ~ Daniel Iglesias, ACT Parks and Conservation Service director[5]

Not Only a Pest, But a ZIKV Reservoir Host?

Apparently, the Red-Whiskered Bulbul Can Carry Malaria

And just when I thought: what bad luck southeast Asia, Australia, and Florida has for being a home to this bird, I discovered something shocking:

There were "recorded individuals of this species in Rio de Janeiro city in 2006".

According to the 2013 study Non-native bird species in Brazil by Priscila M. Fontoura, Ellie Dyer, Tim M. Blackburn, Mário L. Orsi:[6]

• Serpa (2008) recorded individuals of this species in Rio de Janeiro city in 2006, with sightings of individuals in the wild since 1992 and 1994. These possibly originated as escapes from a pet shop.
• Serpa also identified a nest of the species in 2006, showing that it was reproducing outside captivity and suggesting that it may be establishing in the area (Mallet-Rodrigues et al., 2008).

More confirmation that this bird is implicated in human disease: many bird species, from raptors to passerines like the red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), can carry malaria.[7]

Red-Whiskered Bulbul Chicks (Pycnonotus jocosus)

Introduced to Hawai'i (Oahu; not known on other islands)

Why Birds are Critical to the Spread of Zika

Drs. Ayres and Hunter made it clear how Zika is more related to the viruses spread by the Culex genus of mosquitoes (like West Nile virus). Yet, early on, the press was presented with numerous free images of the Aedes mosquito (and studies) which created a huge societal bias.

Every time I read about Zika, there's an image of an Aedes mosquito plunked in the post. Meanwhile, it is entirely plausible that the larger, hardier, Culex is causing 20 - 45 percent of the Zika cases we hear about.

I believe Culex could be the mosquito responsible for the most devastating Zika infections, since Zika could be enhanced by Wolbachia in Culex (as it has been with both West Nile virus and malaria). And, Zika is found in bulbuls.

Culex prefer to feed on birds.[9] Birds can act as reservoir hosts that amplify diseases.

A West Nile Virus FAQ from the AAM (American Academy of Microbiology) written by Shannon E. Greene and Ann Reid reminds us:

Birds Might Amplify the Zika Virus a Billion Times

Culex Will Bite Zika-Infected Birds and Then Bite Humans

The Red-Whiskered Bulbul is Sometimes a Pet

Taught to Sit on the Hand; Often Seen in Indian Bazaars

Native and Introduced Red-Whiskered Bulbuls

We Need to Be Testing These Birds For ZIKV Now

My intro image was created based on one I found at Planet of Birds. Notably, under the heading "Migration" it states:

• Southeast Asia. Established locally in southern Miami, Florida. Migration: Apparently permanent resident throughout its native range, and introduced populations seem to do very little wandering.[10]

I can't help but shake the feeling there are far too many coincidences and too many public health authorities downplaying (or outright lying) about established scientific facts.

Zika in Culex and in birds should be a top research priority right now.

Addendum: January 29th, 2017

Other Kinds of Bulbuls Should Be Investigated

Without getting too wordy, I felt it was important to mention that there are about 40 species of bulbuls.[16] And after I viewed the distribution of the Alophoixus genus,[17] I wanted to stress that these birds should definitely be considered likely reservoir hosts of ZIKV.

Up next is a map I found on Wikipedia of the "Alophoixus distribution map, only recognized species (without Thapsinillas affinis)".

Range of About 10 Bulbuls (Alophoixus)

NOTE: All of the Species Occur in Southeast Asia

Other Bulbuls (Besides Little Greenbul) With ZIKV: Dark-Capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor) & White-Throated Greenbul (Phyllastrephus albigularis)

There Are Over 40 Species of Greenbuls

In the Bulbul Family Pycnonotidae, Found Only in Africa

Listen to Dr. Fiona Hunter on the Zika Virus

Published by Brock University June 3rd, 2016

The Everything Bird Book by Tershia D'Elgin

The Everything Bird Book by Tershia D'Elgin

From identification to bird care, everything you need to know about our feathered friends

How We Can Stop the Spread of the Zika Virus

Let your local health department and area politicians know that Culex are proven vectors in some regions of the world. And it is imperative to be looking for the Zika virus in birds. Share this article. Ask questions.

As Drs. Ayres and Hunter have stressed:

More Must-Read Articles About the Zika Virus

 

Why We Need to Investigate Wolbachia-Infected Mosquito Releases

Zika Virus: Our Tainted Blood Supply

Safe Mosquito Eradication That Works: Using Coffee, Bti, Rubbing Alcohol, and a Cat