OTTAWA – The LaSalle County Health Department will be collecting dead birds to look for West Nile Virus. Crows, Blue Jays and Robins will be gathered. According to the health department, over the past eighteen years West Nile virus activity has been documented throughout LaSalle County. If you find a dead bird, they ask that you contact the Health Department’s Environmental Health Division. The collection process will continue until October
Listed below is the criteria the Health Department uses to determine if a bird is eligible to submit for testing:
1. The bird is dead, but the carcass is in good condition. Birds should be dead no more than about 48 hours prior to collection, and should not show signs of advanced decomposition (maggots, strong odor, dried or deflated eyes).
2. The bird shows no sign it died of causes other than disease. Birds with obvious injuries such as wounds or missing parts should not be submitted for testing. Likewise, crushed carcasses and birds found along roadways are not acceptable.
3. The bird must be one that is acceptable for testing. At this time the Health Department is only collecting crows, blue jays, and robins. To help identify the type of bird, please visit our website at www.lasallecounty.org for bird identification information.
The Health Department staff is getting ready to begin testing mosquitoes for West Nile virus. The mosquito collection and testing equipment was purchased with grant money. The Health Department also utilized the grant money to purchase a large quantity of mosquito larvicide, which is used to treat potential mosquito breeding sites. The larvicide is being distributed to licensed mosquito control applicators from local municipalities and villages throughout the county.
For additional information on West Nile virus, please contact the LaSalle County Health Department at 815-433-3366 or visit our website at www.lasallecounty.org.
