July 7, 2006
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit continues to receive more positive results from dead crows being picked up in the city for the West Nile Virus Dead Bird Collection Program. To date, five of the eleven crows submitted for testing have come back positive for West Nile Virus (WNv). Provincially, 375 birds have been submitted for testing with 12 positive for WNv.
“We have seen an excellent interest from the public to participate in notifying the health unit about dead birds. To date we have had 71 reports, which has provided us a better opportunity to submit good specimens for testing, “ points out Tony Pacifico, Manager of Environmental Health Programs at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “Good specimens will result in a better reflection of the disease in the bird population.”
The Dead Bird Collection Program exists to find good specimens to test for WNv. The role of the inspectors is to determine if the bird is appropriate to test. Those birds that have maggots, or are decomposed or crushed by a car are not good specimens. When a resident calls about a dead bird sighting, we may determine that it is not appropriate to pick it up.
Presence of West Nile in the crow population leads to the assumption of the presence of West Nile in the area and subsequently other wildlife. Of all the birds in the Corvid family, crows are the weakest. While other members of the Corvid family such as blue jays or ravens may become infected, they will continue to fly around. Crows are especially likely to die from West Nile virus infection.
The Health Unit has set up a “Crow Line” for calls from city district residents who wish to report any dead crows, ravens or blue jays found in their area. Dead birds called into the Crow Line may be picked up for West Nile Virus testing if it appears the animal did not die from injury or trauma. If a bird of this description is found, the public is urged to call the Thunder Bay District Health Unit at 625-8328 (City) or toll-free 1-866-582-9003 (District of Thunder Bay).
Testing will continue until the end of August.
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