HEALTH INSPECTIONS |
HEALTH HAZARD INVESTIGATIONS |
BEACH MONITORING |
RADON TESTING |
RABIES CONTROL AND PREVENTION |
WEST NILE SURVEILLANCE |
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West Nile Surveillance
West Nile Virus or WNV is a disease transmitted by a certain breed of mosquito. The bite of an infected mosquito can spread the virus to humans, birds and horses. West Nile Virus can be fatal although most humans that get bitten do not become ill and horses can be vaccinated.
In Wisconsin, WNV has been identified since summer 2002. Surveillance for wild bird morbidity and mortality appears to be one of the most sensitive early detection systems for WNV. The virus can infect a wide range of bird species, with corvids (crows, jays, and ravens) being highly susceptible to WNV. Once a highly susceptible bird becomes infected with WNV, death can occur within five to seven days. Dead birds are most often found singly in one place at one time, not in mass die-offs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avian morbidity/mortality surveillance (dead bird surveillance) as a component of an arbovirus surveillance program. From May through October, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) in collaboration with USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services (WS) conducts surveillance for WNV on crows, ravens, and blue jays (corvid birds).
The following guidelines have been established for reporting and testing Wisconsin corvids:
- The DPH and WS collects information on sick/dead crows, blue jays, and ravens. Always wear rubber gloves when handling sick or dead birds. If you have no gloves, insert your hand into a clean plastic bag, pick up the bird with the bagged hand, invert the bag over the bird and seal the bag.
- Call the Wisconsin Dead Bird Hotline at: 1-800 433-1610 to report a dead bird. WS will collect samples from suitable specimens. Birds found dead must be in good postmortem condition. Indicators of suitable postmortem condition include no scavenging to the carcass, an intact body cavity, no maggot infestation or strong odor to the carcass. Birds with signs of trauma are acceptable.
- Priority testing based on geographic location or time of year may be required as the mosquito season progresses. Once two WNV positive birds are detected in a county, birds from that county may no longer be accepted for testing. However, reporting sick/dead crows, blue jays, or ravens should continue through the summer.
More Information:
West Nile Virus: What You Need to Know (CDC fact sheet)