WNV Positive Confirmed Birds and Other Animals
in Marin
Location
Species
Date Collected
2008
San Rafael
House Finch
7/29/08
2007
Ross
Swainson's Thrush
10/24/07
Novato
Common Yellowthroat
9/14/07
Novato
Western Tanager
9/06/07
Novato
Western Tanager
9/06/07
2006
Novato
American Crow
11/03/06
San Rafael
American Crow
10/02/06
San Rafael
Western Scrub Jay
9/26/06
Novato
Chicken
9/11/06
Novato
Chicken
9/11/06
San Anselmo
American Crow
9/14/06
Marshall
Red Tailed Hawk
8/06
San Rafael
American Crow
8/30/06
Novato
Horse
8/30/06
San Rafael
American Crow
8/7/06
Novato
Western Gray Squirrel
8/1/06
San Anselmo
American Crow
8/11/06
San Anselmo
American Crow
8/3/06
2005
Mill Valley
Warbling Vireo
9/22/2005
San Anselmo
Western Scrub-Jay
09/15/05
Novato
Western Screech Owl
08/31/05
Novato
Sora
08/26/05
Novato
Western Tanager
08/25/05
Mill Valley
Chickadee
08/25/05
San Rafael
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher
08/24/05
San Rafael
American Crow
08/24/05
Kentfield
American Crow
08/22/05
Corte Madera
American Crow
08/15/05
San Rafael
Western Scrub-Jay
08/03/05
Larkspur
American Crow
08/01/05
Corte Madera
Western Scrub-Jay
07/27/05
Novato
Steller's Jay
07/20/05
Human WNV Illness
Human illness from WNV is relatively rare, even in areas where the virus has been reported. Relatively few mosquitoes actually carry WNV.
Getting a mosquito bite does not require medical attention or testing for WNV.
Most people (80%) who are infected with WNV have no symptoms. About 20% of those infected have a generally mild flu-like illness known as West Nile Fever, with symptoms that generally resolve within 3 to 6 days, sometimes longer. Symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea, body aches, mild skin rash, or swollen lymph nodes. Once infected, a person will have long-term, possibly lifetime, protection against future infections.
Fewer than 1% (about 1 in 150) of infected people develop more serious illness that may require hospitalization, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), and other neurological conditions. The symptoms of severe infection include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Individuals above the age of 50 are at greater risk. If you think you have symptoms, contact your physician.
The Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District serves
the two county area to minimize the threat of mosquito-borne diseases. It
is essential that residents report dead birds throughout the season so that
the county can conduct surveillance on WNV. The district will continue
to pick up dead birds that residents report. If there are any questions, please
call the district at 1-800-231-3236 or 707-285-2200.
Calling the CDHS West Nile Virus Toll Free Line to report dead birds: 877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473)
Because of the high volume of reports the State is receiving, they are not able to phone back all callers.
In order to be picked up for testing, dead birds must be:
Deceased within the past 48 hours (e.g. no signs of decay and likely to have been observed)
Linked to a specific address (not just on the side of a public road or on a public site where there is no regular address or observation).
All species of birds are eligible to be tested for WNV if the above two criteria are met. Bird species severely affected by WNV include: Crows, ravens, jays, magpies, and/or birds of prey (e.g. owls, hawks).
It is important for callers to leave all the information they have on the bird and their address, phone#, etc (according to instructions on the hotline message). The State prioritizes calling back those people whose voicemail message indicates a high probability that it is a type of bird they test and that is has been dead for less than 48 hours.
Disposing of dead birds: If you are instructed to dispose of the dead bird or if the dead bird has not been picked up by 5 p.m. on the day it was reported, please follow these guidelines:
Avoid touching the dead bird with your bare hands. Ensure that your clothing does not come in contact with the dead bird or any blood, secretions or feces from the dead bird.
Use gloves or multiple heavy-duty plastic bags to pick up the dead bird.
Grasp the dead bird with your hand inside the plastic bags. Turn the plastic bags inside-out over the dead bird so the dead bird is now inside the plastic bags and your hands are on the outside of the plastic bags. Be sure that the beak or claws do not puncture the bags.
Tightly seal the two bags.
Dispose of the "double-bagged" bird carcass by placing it in a trash container. Ensure that the trash container is secure from children and animals while awaiting pickup from your refuse company.
WASH YOUR HANDS thoroughly with warm water and soap after disposal. If you wore gloves to dispose of the dead bird, wash your gloved hands and then wash your bare hands thoroughly after you have removed the gloves.
NOTE: There is no current evidence that West Nile Virus can be transmitted from bird to human when the proper precautions are taken.
There are effective mosquito prevention and control programs in place
in California and in Marin through Marin Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control.
Key elements of WNV prevention and control are surveillance for WNV
activity in mosquitoes, birds, chickens, horses, and humans by the CDC,
state and local health departments, and mosquito control agencies; mosquito
control by state and local mosquito control agencies; and preventive
measures individuals can take such as:
applying mosquito repellent;
avoiding outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active;
wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors;
making sure screens do not
have holes;
removing standing water (see the CDC and California Department
of Health Services links below for more information)
Mosquito Control at Home
Individuals can control mosquito populations
at their home by reducing standing water in places such as:
in cast off tires;
containers that are not turned over;
saved rainwater in open, un-lidded drums or containers;
blocked gutters;
storm sumps on private or public property that are not maintained;
over-watering for landscape along with poor landscape drainage that allows
standing water;
inoperable sumps in crawl spaces of buildings;
standing water under buildings due to waste plumbing leaks;
standing water under buildings due to improperly directed sump plumbing,
i.e., plumbing NOT directed away from the building. This could also apply
to downspout not directed away from the building OR downspout/landscape drainage
that is not maintained;
fresh water leaks either through leaking gaskets OR because a PRV (pressure
regulating valve) is defective;
leaking hot water heaters;
bird baths;
in tree holes;
in abandoned spas; doughboy (above ground pools); in-ground pools; wading
pools OR in pools with inoperable skimming action or inoperable pump;
RESISTANT MOSQUITO IN MARIN? As per the Marin Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control
District, in May 2001 the Mosquito Control Research Laboratory at U.C. Davis
collected a sample of Culex pipiens mosquitoes under a building in San Rafael,
California to be used in an adult pesticide residence study. The test found
that the capability of the insecticides resmethrin and permethrin was compromised.
Although this study showed reduced knock-down on mosquitoes from past treatments
the study is considered the first step in on going research that is being conducted
by the Marin Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District. The study from U.C.
Davis was geared to the knock-down capability of these pesticides used for adult
mosquito control. When pesticides are used by the Marin Sonoma Mosquito and
Vector Control District's the uses are centered around the treatment of Mosquito
larvae and not the treatment of the adult mosquitoes. Residents of Marin county
can be confident that the Mosquito District is doing all they can to find mosquitoes
in their habitat and taking safe measures to eliminate them.
Older adults needing assistance with fixing window screens or other repairs
may phone the following numbers to get referrals to reduced-rate "handypersons":
Novato Independent Elders Program : (415) 893-7997
The American Mosquito Control Association, in partnership with Tumbleweed
Press, is pleased to announce the American launch of the book: "The
Summer the Town Bit Back."
