It was only a matter of time. Over the past month, West Nile
virus killed birds in San Jose and Gilroy, and Thursday, it was
found in a bird from Morgan Hill. A barn owl found several weeks
ago in the east foothills of Morgan Hill, off Dunne Avenue, was
confirmed positive with West Nile virus.
It was only a matter of time.
Over the past month, West Nile virus killed birds in San Jose and Gilroy, and Thursday, it was found in a bird from Morgan Hill.
A barn owl found several weeks ago in the east foothills of Morgan Hill, off Dunne Avenue, was confirmed positive with West Nile virus.
Bringing the total number of infected birds found in the county to 21, the Santa Clara County Vector Control District also received confirmation that a hawk from Los Altos and six other birds from San Jose tested positive.
It is the second bird West Nile infection in South Valley, following one case in Gilroy earlier this month. That bird, a house sparrow, was found near Princevalle and Eighth streets.
First detected in the United States in 1999, West Nile virus is found in birds and spread to humans and other animals through the bite of an infected mosquito.
West Nile rarely causes illness or death in humans, even after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
The county’s vector control still is asking residents to report dead birds – that haven’t died from an injury and have been dead less than 48 hours – either by calling its department, the state’s dead bird hotline, or online.
“We are asking residents to be patient and to understand that not all dead birds will be picked up,” said Kriss Costa, vector control’s community education specialist. “The state is only testing certain species of birds, so residents may be asked to dispose of the bird themselves.”
Due to the high volume of dead birds being called in, the county’s only testing crows, ravens, magpies, jays and birds of prey.
Vector Control recommends picking up a dead bird with a hand that is inside two plastic bags. By grasping the bird through the bags, they can be turned inside-out over the animal so it is inside. The bags should be tightly sealed and disposed of in a covered trash container.
Residents also are being asked to keep mosquito populations at bay by checking for any standing water, to help prevent West Nile’s spread.
Vector Control District: 792-5010. State’s dead bird hotline: 1-877-968-2473. Report online: www.westnile.ca.gov
Lori Stuenkel covers education for the Gilroy Dispatch. She can be reached at 847-7158 or ls*******@************ch.com
