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State health officials have reactivated the statewide toll-free Dead Bird Reporting Hotline at 1-800-433-1610. People who observe a dead bird can call the hotline and to arrange to have the bird tested for West Nile virus.
Hotline staff can answer questions about dead birds and provide information on safe handling and disposal. People should not handle dead birds with their bare hands.
“Dead birds act as an early warning system for West Nile virus,” said Dr. Seth Foldy, state health officer. “Finding the virus in birds indicates that West Nile virus may be present in the local mosquito population and that people should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. While very few mosquitoes actually carry the virus, Wisconsin residents need to be informed of West Nile virus activity so that they can take steps to avoid being bitten by infected mosquitoes.”
West Nile virus is spread to people by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. Mosquitoes get infected with WNV by feeding on infected birds and can then transmit the virus to other animals, birds and humans.
Most people infected with West Nile virus will not have any symptoms. Of the approximately 20 percent of infected people who develop illness, most have milder symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back.
Symptoms begin between three to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and typically last a few days. If you become ill and think you have West Nile virus infection, contact your healthcare provider, who can help treat your symptoms.
In rare cases, West Nile virus can cause severe disease with additional symptoms including muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, coma, and potentially death. Older people are at greater risk of developing severe illness.
The Department of Health Services has monitored the spread of WNV since 2001. The surveillance program monitors wild birds, horses, and humans for West Nile virus. In 2002, the state documented its first human infections with 52 human cases. This was followed by 17 human cases in 2003, and 12 in 2004, 17 in 2005, 21 in 2006, 12 in 2007, and eight in 2008.
For more information on West Nile virus, go to
http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/westNilevirus/ or
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.
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