Can backyard chickens provide answers about transmission of West Nile virus?

Eggs from backyard chickens — donated by people in the community — are analyzed to see if they contain antibodies to West Nile virus. Photo: Kellen Bakovich/CSU

I wrote this story after talking with a principal investigator at CSU who outlined more than a handful of research projects targeting West Nile virus in northern Colorado. This project is a collaborative effort with the city of Fort Collins, Larimer County, CDC and the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program. The backyard chickens story jumped out at me for its uniqueness and given the popular appeal of these birds.

Assistant Professor Angela Bosco-Lauth spoke with 9 News in December 2021 about this research, and introduced her chickens, including Annie Yolkley.

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Published by Mary G.

I'm a science writer, editor and media relations manager based in Highland, Indiana.

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