West Nile Virus in San Diego

[Graehstone]

Originally Posted by birdyland

Oh dear, I found a dead songbird on my back poarch last night. I logged a found report with the state, we'll see if they come pick it up...

Ut oh Let us know what they found out providing they let you know that is.

[birdyland]

Originally Posted by Graehstone

Ut oh Let us know what they found out providing they let you know that is.

Great, Guess I'll never know. Just got a call back, they said because the bird already had ants on it, they cannot come pick it up. I guess the ants tend to eat the organs they use for testing. They told me to throw the bird in the trash... I think I'll bury the poor thing when I get home tonight.

They did say thank you for calling, and even if they don't pick it up, the report helps map where birds are dying.

[birdyland]

To report a dead bird - call toll free: 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473)
Operators Available 8 am - 5 pm / 7 days a week
After 5 pm, please leave a message

or on the web

http://cvecdata.ucdavis.edu/deadbird2.cfm

This is the CA number of course...

[The Outlaw]

Just for the record, according to Dr. Ritchie Branson, even though it COULD effect pssiticines, it hasn't thus far. It has hit the raptors and crows and other native birds, but it seems that parrots must have some natural resistance to the disease. He explained that phenomena by reminding me when I specifically asked about protecting my parrots that many of the largest aviaries in the country are in heavily mosquito populated regions (Texas, Florida, Lousiana) yet they aren't finding dead parrots.

There is a parrot vaccine that is currently being tested and is expected to be approved within 24 months. It was developed by the Emergent Disease Research group at the University of Georgia Veterinary Medicine. That was also addressed at his seminar here in Maryland about 2 months ago.

Again, don't be foolish about over exposure, especially to yourself, but your parrot is likely to do just fine. The benefits of fresh air and sunshine are greater than the risk of WNV, and that's a direct quote from Dr. Ritchie.

[birdyland]

More Dead Birds Test Positive For West Nile Virus
Five Birds With Virus Found In County This Year

POSTED: 12:55 pm PDT August 4, 2005
UPDATED: 4:50 pm PDT August 4, 2005

SAN DIEGO -- Three more dead birds found in San Diego County have tested positive for the West Nile virus, bringing the total this year to five, county officials said Thursday.


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Learn More About Protecting Yourself From West Nile
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Two of the dead birds were blue jays found in the city of San Diego on August 1 and 2. The third bird was a great horned owl found in the North County community of Vista on July 25.

County Vector Control employees were treating known mosquito breeding sites in those areas and educating the public to the dangers of mosquitos and West Nile virus.

Mosquitos become infected with West Nile virus by biting birds with the disease and spreading the virus to humans.

The first bird in the county to test positive for West Nile virus was a crow found in Carlsbad June 10. The second bird was a scrub jay found dead in Escondido July 13.

Vector Control can now use VecTest on dead crows, jays and ravens to determine immediately whether they are infected with West Nile virus.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/health/4810789/detail.html


Commentary note: the test can be preformed on other types of birds, but they must be sent out to a lab.

[The Outlaw]

We've had West Nile here for at least 5 years. What they normally do is once 2 birds test positive, the whole county is considered infested. They don't continue to test or collect beyond the first 2 birds. Again, even after so many years, no parrots are testing positive for the disease. We have had several humans succumb or become very ill.