Herald and News: Bird tests positive for West Nile in Chiloquin

Bird tests positive for West Nile

Jay found in Chiloquin area is first evidence this year of virus in county

H&N Staff report

September 19, 2006

A jay found in the Chiloquin area last week tested positive for West Nile virus, county health officials said today.

The dead Steller’s jay is the first evidence this year of the virus in Klamath County.

No human cases have been reported in Klamath County though Modoc County reported a human case of West Nile virus last month and 45 people in Oregon have been infected this year. There have been no deaths in Oregon.

Most people get West Nile virus through the bites of infected mosquitoes. In most cases symptoms are mild to moderate and include fever, fatigue, head and body aches and sometimes rash. The more severe form of the disease — which inflicts less than 1 percent of those infected — is encephalitis or swelling of the brain. People over the age of 50 are at greater risk for complications.

To prevent infection, people should protect themselves from mosquitoes, said Marilyn Sutherland, director of the Klamath County Health Department.

“People should remember the 4 Ds,” she said, “which are drain standing water around the house, use DEET or picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus as repellents, dress in long sleeves and pants when outside and remember that dusk and dawn are times when mosquitoes are most active.”

Klamath Vector Control officials have monitored for the virus for several years, testing sentinel chicken flocks and mosquito pools. Edward Horvath of Chiloquin Vector Control submitted Sept. 11 the test on the positive jay.

In 2005, two birds and three horses in Klamath County tested positive for the virus.

Vaccination is available for horses. Dogs and cats can become infected but rarely become ill.