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Birds
The West Nile virus is carried long distances by infected birds and then spread locally by mosquitoes that bite infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then bite and pass the virus to humans and animals, primarily birds and horses.
West Nile virus has been detected in dead birds of at least 138 species. Although birds, particularly crows and jays, infected with West Nile virus can die or become ill, most infected birds do survive.
Health departments across Colorado and around the country are closely monitoring human and horse illnesses, testing dead birds, and monitoring mosquito breeding areas.
Your local health department may need you to bring in dead birds early in mosquito season to test the bird for West Nile virus. Later in the season, some health departments may need to record the location of dead birds, but do not need the actual specimen for testing.
Call your local health department for more information. Click here for a list.
There is no evidence that a person can get West Nile virus from handling live or dead infected birds. Persons should avoid bare-handed contact when handling any dead animal. You can safely dispose of dead birds by picking them up with gloved hands or with a shovel, double bagging them in plastic bags, and disposing of them in the trash.
Links and more information:
News
Release:
WNV Bird Testing Has Begun
Bird
identification chart
• CDC
bird species list
• Audubon
Society
• US
surveillance maps
• US Fish and Wildlife
Service
• CDC
animal information page
• Questions
and Answers (CDC)
• West
Nile Information Pages (Colo.)
• Print a brochure
For
more information call the toll-free
Colorado West Nile Virus HelpLine
1- 877- 462-2911
Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
CDC
West Nile Virus InfoLines
English: 1-888-246-2675
Español: 1-888-246-2857
Hearing-impaired TDD: 1-866-874-2646
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