With spring comes mosquitoes, and with mosquitoes comes the threat of West Nile virus.  Though it can be very serious, West Nile virus cannot be spread from human to human.  The disease is spread when an infected mosquito bites a person.  Mosquitoes get the disease from feeding off of infected birds.  This year, the Ohio Department of Health will be testing only dead crows and blue jays (corvids).  According to their information, over the past four years, dead corvids have remained consistently good sentinels for West Nile activity.  By focusing surveillance efforts on both these two bird species and mosquitoes, the Fairfield Department of Health will be able to focus their attention on changing disease risk in the county.

     This is why the Fairfield Department of Health has started dead bird testing.   Residents are encouraged to report dead adult crows and blue jays to the Health Department.   A dead “black bird” identification guideis provided for easy identification of dead birds that are black in color.  One helpful hint is that crows are longer than 12 inches in length. 

 The following steps should be taken when reporting these dead birds:            

 1.  Call the Fairfield Department of Health’s environmental division at (740) 653-4489 extension 167 to make a report.  

 2. The Environmental clerk will ask a series of questions to verify the type of bird and its condition.  Birds need to be adults and have died from natural causes.  This means the birds cannot have trauma, odor or missing body parts.  Also, birds should have died within a 24 hour period before being collected.

3. The bird should be placed in a plastic double bag and put on ice until youcan bring it into the Health Department.

4.  Avoid touching the bird with your bare hands.  However, if you do touch the bird, please utilize proper hand washing techniques (wet hands, apply soap, briskly rub hands for 20 seconds, scrub between fingers, scrub forearm to just below elbow,  rinse forearms and  hands, dry hands and forearms, turn off the water with a towel, discard towel).    

The Fairfield Department of Health sends the dead birds to the Ohio Department of Agriculture Lab for West Nile virus testing.  This process can take several weeks.  The resident will receive a phone call regarding any positive results.   

If two birds do test positive for West Nile virus, mosquito traps are set.  Last year, there were no positive mosquito pools found in Fairfield County.  In addition, there have been no human cases of West Nile virus in Fairfield County since 2002. 

Protecting Yourself from West Nile virus

If warranted by the testing outlined above, townships may choose to spray for mosquito larvae reduction.  Residents can also do many things to reduce their chances of a West Nile virus infection.  According to the CDC, residents can reduce the number of mosquito bites by making a habit of using insect repellent with DEET.  Remember that prime mosquito-biting hours are between dusk and dawn.  If you must be outdoors during these times, try to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, shoes and socks.  Light colored clothes are least attractive to mosquitoes. 

Residents can help eliminate mosquitoes around their homes by checking around the yard for containers that could hold standing water.  In addition, regular changing of water in bird baths and flower pots will help minimize mosquito activity. If there is a pool or outdoor sauna or hot tub, be sure it is cleaned and chlorinated regularly.  Keep it drained when not in use. 

Please remember that West Nile virus is not the bird flu that has received so much media attention.  For more information about the West Nile virus, review the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website - www.cdc.gov.  For further questions or concerns about West Nile Virus or how to handle dead birds, please call the Fairfield Department of Health directly at 740-653-4489 extension 167.