April 30, 2004, Boulder, CO — Boulder County Public Health officials announced today they will begin
accepting dead birds from the corvid family for testing for the presence
of West Nile Virus beginning May 3, 2004. This includes ravens, crows,
magpies and jays.
The bird testing is part of Boulder County Public Health's (BCPH)
surveillance program that monitors West Nile Virus activity throughout the
county. The program tracks test results of birds, mosquitoes, chickens,
horses and humans using geographic mapping systems.
Birds testing positive for West Nile Virus will probably be the
earliest indication for presence of the disease in Boulder County.
"The intent is to closely monitor the virus' activity by location
and time so that we can identify areas in the county where the risk of
human infection may be high," said Heath Harmon, BCPH communicable
disease control coordinator.
Last year there were seven deaths and 430 confirmed cases of West Nile
Virus reported in Boulder County.
To be eligible and accepted for testing, a dead bird must meet the
following criteria:
- Be a member of the corvid family (includes ravens, crows, magpies
and jays).
- Be dead less than 48 hours.
- An exact location of where the bird was found must be provided
(street address or cross street).
Birds such as sparrows, starlings, pigeons, finches, robins, small
blackbirds and songbirds WILL NOT be accepted for testing. Additionally,
dried out, foul or maggot-infested birds cannot be tested and will be
rejected.
If several birds from one area have been submitted for testing,
additional birds from the same area may not be unnecessary and could be
rejected.
If a bird meets the testing criteria, residents should contact Colorado
Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) hotline at
877-462-2911, Boulder County Public Health at 303-441-1564, or the local
animal control agency responsible for the area where the bird was found.
Upon contacting BCPH or the local animal control agency, you will be
advised as to whether or not the bird is needed for testing and how it
should be collected and submitted. If the bird does not meet the criteria
for testing, the carcass should be disposed of in the trash.
Boulder County Public Health does not do bird testing, but submits them
to the CDPHE laboratory in Denver or one of five regional public health
laboratories.
Public health officials are being vigilant about West Nile Virus this
year and will be using all available means to control the mosquitoes that
carry and spread the disease to humans.
"The key to mosquito control is to identify breeding areas and
eliminate the larvae before they hatch into adults," said Joe
Malinowski, Boulder County Public Health Consumer Protection Coordinator.
"Spraying pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes is considered a last
line of defense and therefore only comprises about 2 percent of our
control efforts."
For more information about West Nile Virus, go to: www.BoulderCountyMosquito.net
or call the Boulder County Public Health hotline at 303-441-1460.
