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Local News - September 2002 |
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Health officials remain vigilant for West Nile By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer September 6, 2002 - While no more Lincoln County birds can be sent for West Nile testing, health department officials here still need to know if residents think they have found an infected bird. Since the onslaught of West Nile activity, the State Laboratory of Public Health has been swamped with possibly infected birds sent for testing. This summer, more than 600 birds have been received at the lab. Officials have decided to concentrate more on human lab specimens, which are also being sent to the lab at a growing rate. This means that any county that has already had one bird test positive for the virus is being asked not to send any more samples in. Lincoln County is included in that group. On Aug. 5, a crow found at Cowans Ford Country Club tested positive for West Nile. And while they cannot birds found in the county, health department officials still want to know if one is found. The West Nile hotline will remain open. “We still want calls to be monitored to let Raleigh know that we’re still getting some,” Scott Sneed, environmental health supervisor said. “We’re not collecting, but we still want to know.” If residents find dead birds that are known to be West Nile carriers — Blue Jays, American Crows, Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls — they should call the environmental health office at 704-736-8426. Leave a name, telephone number, address and date. The bird should be disposed of by double bagging it and putting it into the trash or burying it. Although there is no evidence that the West Nile Virus can be transmitted to a human from a dead bird, it is still important to be careful when handling one. The Center for Disease Control recommends using rubber gloves when touching any animal carcass. Hands should be washed thoroughly afterwards. For more information about the West Nile Virus and what to do if a possible carrier is found, call the West Nile hotline. For instructions in English, call 704-736-8417; for Spanish, dial 704-736-8512.
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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