West Nile Virus - Safety Information, Causes, Mosquito Control and More

West Nile Virus - Safety Information, Causes, Mosquito Control and More

Reporting Dead Birds That May Have West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe West Nile Virus is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. This fact sheet contains important information that can help you recognize and prevent West Nile virus. The rate of fatality is 3-15% among those who develop the disease. WNV encephalitis primarily affects persons over 50 years of age. Those with a compromised immune system may also be more susceptible to acquiring encephalitis. Currently no approved human vaccine is available for WNV.

West Nile virus infects certain wild birds. The infected birds, especially crows, are known to get sick and die from the infection. Reporting of dead birds is a good way to check for West Nile virus activity in the environment and allow implementation of prevention and control measures to minimize the spread of the virus. State Dead Bird Surveillance program for West Nile virus rely on citizens to report and submit dead birds seen around their property or elsewhere to their local health department.

Avoid bare-hand contact when handling dead birds. Use rubber gloves when handling a dead bird. If you do not have gloves, insert your hand into a plastic bag, grasp the bird carefully and invert the bag over the bird. Each bird should be placed in tied plastic bag, and then placed inside a second tied bag.

If you are not submitting the bird for testing, the bagged bird can be placed in the trash.

If you have been asked to submit the dead bird for testing, take the bird to the nearest drop off site as instructed.

Identify and Report Dead Birds - State by state

California

CLICK HERE TO REPORT A DEAD BIRD or 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

After you have reported a dead bird, you will be contacted if that bird will be picked up for West Nile virus testing. If you have not been contacted within 24 hours of your report, you may safely dispose of the dead bird in your trash. There is no evidence that West Nile virus can be acquired by handling dead birds, but it is best not to handle the dead bird with your bare hands. Use gloves, a shovel, or a plastic bag to place the bird in a trash bag for disposal. Please DO NOT freeze dead birds. West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, so the best way to protect yourself from West Nile virus is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Click here for prevention information. Due to the high volume of reports to the hotline, the California Department of Health Services is unable to respond to each report. However, all of the information received about dead birds is used by public agencies to track where birds are dying. Dead birds are an indicator of West Nile virus activity. This allows the local mosquito and vector control agencies to concentrate mosquito control efforts in those areas. Thank you for your cooperation.