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West
Nile Virus
West Nile Virus
was first found in the United States in New York City in 1999.
Commonly found in west Asia, Africa and the Middle East, it is
caused by a virus which can infect
humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some other mammals.
West
Nile Virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes
become infected when they feed on infected birds.
Most people infected
with West Nile Virus have no symptoms at all. About 20 percent
develop symptoms that include fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle
or joint pains. These symptoms can last a few days to several weeks.
Less than 1 percent of
infected people will develop a more serious illness with symptoms
that include headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation,
convulsions, tremors, and muscle weakness.
Severe cases of the
virus may lead to paralysis, coma, or death. Symptoms normally
appear three to 15 days after the mosquito bite. People age 50 and
older are more likely to develop severe symptoms from West Nile
Virus.
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Mosquito Control
and Prevention of Bites
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Wearing long-sleeved shirts and
long pants.
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Avoiding
outdoor activities at dawn and dusk
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Make
sure window and door screens are tight
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Reducing breeding grounds by
eliminating stagnant water on your property, and by changing standing
water (such as in birdbaths) frequently.
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The
Washington State Department of Health recommends using insect
repellants that contain one of the following ingredients.
Please see the CDC webpage linked below for more
information on insect repellent
efficacy, use and safety
CDC
Insect Repellent Info Mosquito Control District
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Dead
Bird Reporting and Handling
  
Testing dead birds for West Nile
Virus ends October 31st. Testing will resume in May 2010.
Increasing
sightings of dead birds may be an indication of West Nile Virus
(WNV)
in the community. Mosquitoes that carry this virus transmit it
to birds. The infected birds often become ill and die as a result.
WNV infects certain
species of wild birds, including crows, jays, ravens and magpies
which are more likely to die from the disease.
Although
it is important to notify the Health Department of your dead bird
sighting, all will not be collected or tested. You
will be advised whether the bird should be submitted for testing.
When collecting the bird for testing use disposable gloves or double plastic bags to collect the bird.
Although there is no current evidence that you can contract
West Nile Virus from handling dead birds, avoid barehanded
contact. In general, do not handle dead animals without
proper protection! Contact the Cowlitz County Health
Department at 360-414-5599 to report a dead bird or report online
with the link below.
Washington State Dead
Bird Reporting
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What
services are provided by Health Department
professionals for Cowlitz County?
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Recording and reporting data on
dead birds, particularly crows, blue jays, crows and ravens, in
order to assess presence of West Nile Virus in Cowlitz County.
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Technical advice on proper
handling of dead birds and other animals.
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Technical expertise to citizens,
agencies and medical and veterinary professionals regarding
mosquito control and protection against bites.
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Education
for the public about the link between certain bird species, mosquitoes and West Nile Virus.
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