PSA: Last week I saw a juvenile scrub jay fall out of a tree in my backyard and die. Today, a rep from MVCAC called to let me know the bird tested positive for West Nile Virus.
PSA for my fellow Sacramentans: The mosquitoes are bad this year, and West Nile Virus season is apparently just getting started. Please protect yourselves! Since I went through this experience I have been reading up and wanted to share some info:
WNV has been in California for ~23 years, it is considered an "established disease" in the Sacramento region. I was pretty panicked when I learned that the bird I saw die in my yard tested positive. I was slightly reassured when I read that: ~80% of people who get infected with WNV never have any symptoms. ~20% do have symptoms that sound awful, but recover within a couple weeks. 1 out of 1500* people die of WNV.
MVCAC (Mosquito Vector Control Association of California) started a "Dead Bird Call Center" in April of 2024 - they ask that residents of Sacramento county call 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473), or make an online report here https://westnile.ca.gov/report if they see a dead bird.
I wanted to share a PSA because I had not heard about this program/task force, and didn't know they wanted us to report dead birds until just a couple of weeks ago.
Like the title says, I saw a juvenile scrub jay fall out of a tree in my backyard last week. I was out watering plants in the early morning, and was surprised and confused when I saw a bird fall. I walked over and it was clearly not well - seizing in a gruesome manner. The poor little bird died right in front of me within a minute of it falling from the tree.
I made the call that morning - and the woman I spoke with thanked me multiple times and collected some details from me. She requested that I send a picture of the bird via email. She also asked that I place the bird in a bag and leave it on my porch, and said that someone from the program would come pick it up later that day. They did.
Today I received a call to let me know that the bird tested positive for WNV. The rep explained that their next steps include taking mosquito samples in the area to hone in further, and will likely be doing targeted pesticide treatments.
The rep shared that there had been 3 other birds that their team has collected since January that have tested positive for WNV - those were in Carmichael and Tahoe Park. I live in the Rosemont suburb of Sac.
He strongly encouraged me to wear protective clothing and/or use bug spray when outside - ESPECIALLY at dawn and dusk. Apparently the breed of mosquitoes that carry WNV are most active at those times.
I think we've all heard the "no standing water" PSA - he told me to make sure to think about potted plants that sit on a saucer to catch water, and said this is often overlooked.
I am looking into mosquito-protective clothing as we speak. Stay safe, friends!
More info here:
https://dhs.saccounty.gov/PUB/Pages/Communicable-Disease-Control/GI-WestNileVirus.aspx
https://www.mvcac.org/west-nile-virus-and-dead-bird-call-center-now-live/