Eighth bird to test positive
Sep 05, 2008 - 04:37 PM
DURHAM -- A dead bird found in Pickering is the latest to test positive for West Nile virus (WNV).
The crow was picked up on Sept. 2 and was the eighth bird in Durham in 2008 to test positive for the disease. Crows found in Scugog, Whitby, Uxbridge and Oshawa were also found to be infected with the disease. The first bird to test positive was reported on Aug. 1.
In total this summer, 49 dead birds were submitted by the Region for testing under the health department’s WNV monitoring program. The department’s seasonal bird-monitoring program is now complete and no more birds will be picked up. Mosquitoes will be monitored for two more weeks. As it stands, no mosquitoes submitted from Durham have tested positive for WNV.
“Thanks to the assistance of area residents, health department staff were able to collect more birds this season than we have in the past,” said Dr. Robert Kyle, Durham’s medical officer of health. “It is every encouraging to see everyone being so vigilant in their efforts to help monitor West Nile virus activities throughout the community.”
Dr. Kyle reminded Durham residents that mosquitoes are still active and to take precautions to avoid them.
Last summer, three birds out of the 36 submitted tested positive for the disease. However, the numbers were higher in previous years.
In 2006, seven out of 57 birds tested positive for the disease and in 2005, eight out of 69 tested positive. As well, this year officials say a horse in north Durham died of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a similar but much rarer virus that is also mosquito-borne.
For more information on WNV, call the Durham Region Health Department’s Environmental Help Line at 905-723-3818 or 1-888-777-9613, ext. 2188 or visit www.region.durham.on.ca.
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