DUBLIN, CA – A dead bird found in Dublin tested positive for the West Nile virus, the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District announced Monday.
This marks the province’s first West Nile case of 2020. Statewide, 81 dead birds, 675 mosquito samples and 10 people tested positive for West Nile virus as of Monday, the province said in a news release.
The bird was tested Aug. 7 after the dead bird was discovered and reported, the province said. Dead birds help the province keep tabs on West Nile virus activity.
The West Nile virus has no cure and is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Residents should remove standing water from their belongings, wear mosquito repellents, check doors and windows are free of holes, and wear long and loose clothing, the province said. Mosquitoes are most active at morning and dusk.
Horse owners are advised to vaccinate their horses as they are particularly susceptible to the virus.
“Even though this summer is very different from what we normally experience, the West Nile virus is still something we need to worry about,” General Manager Ryan Clausnitzer said in the release. “While we do not detect high numbers of mosquitoes in the area where the bird was found, there is an increased risk of West Nile virus with each mosquito bite.”
The province keeps busy with mosquitoes in the nearby area and seeks to find standing water sources where mosquitoes can breed, such as swimming pools, buckets, tires, fountains, storm drains and more.
One in five people infected with the virus develop symptoms such as fever, headache, ache, joint pain, vomiting or rash, and less than one percent of infected people develop a serious neurological disease such as encephalitis or meningitis, the province said. People older than 50 years or have compromised immune system are especially susceptible to serious complications.
Seek immediate medical attention if you begin to experience symptoms, the county said.
Call the county at 510-783-7744 or visit mosquitoes.org for more information or to request services such as receiving mosquitoes for standing water on your property.
