West Nile Virus - Report Dead Birds

If you find a fresh dead bird, with no obvious signs of trauma or decay, please report it online here or contact North Salinas Valley Mosquito Abatement District (NSVMAD) to to collect it. If you are outside of their service area, you may also drop it off at any of our three offices using the collection method below.

IMPORTANT:

• Protect Yourself: Wear gloves at all times when handling dead birds, since mites, insects, and bacteria could transfer a disease to humans. Disposable gloves are best and do not wear the same gloves you use when handling seed, cleaning feeders or doing other household or garden chores.
• Use the Proper Tools: Use a small shovel, rake or other tool to move the bird if possible, even while wearing gloves. Avoid touching the bird's body as much as possible with any part of your skin or gloves. A sheet of newspaper, piece of cardboard or disposable rag can be additional barriers between the bird and any possible contamination.
• Wrap the Bird: Put the bird in a plastic bag that can be twisted shut or sealed. Keep the Body Hidden From Predators: Place the bag carefully in a covered trash container where it will be out of reach of pets, curious children or scavengers. Be sure the container closes well and cannot be raided by predators seeking an easy meal.
• Clean Up Thoroughly: If moving the bird required contact with bodily fluids or open injuries, clean and sterilize any tools or gloves used in a solution of at least one part bleach to nine parts water or stronger. If there is a significant mess where the bird's body was, remove and discard the patch of soil, sod or dirt, or pour the cleaning solution over the area. Grass may be killed by doing so, but so will any dangerous bacteria.
• Wash Your Hands: Wash your hands thoroughly with hot, soapy water after handling dead birds, even if gloves were worn and there was no direct contact with the bird. If water is not available, be liberal with hand sanitizer and wash your hands as soon as possible.

Information about the West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. You can reduce your risk of being infected with WNV by using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites. There are no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent WNV infection. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms. Less than 1% of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness.

West Nile virus is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.

Additional routes of human infection have also been documented. It is important to note that these methods of transmission represent a very small proportion of cases:

• Blood transfusions
• Organ transplants
• Exposure in a laboratory setting
• From mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding

West Nile virus is not transmitted:

• From person-to-person or from animal-to-person through casual contact. Normal veterinary infection control precautions should be followed when caring for a horse suspected to have this or any viral infection.
• From handling live or dead infected birds. You should avoid bare-handed contact when handling any dead animal. If you are disposing of a dead bird, use gloves or double plastic bags to place the carcass in a garbage can.
• Through consuming infected birds or animals. In keeping with overall public health practice, and due to the risk of known food-borne pathogens, always follow procedures for fully cooking meat from either birds or mammals.

Transmission cycle: Click Image to download