CMAD special release
Colusa County, CA (MPG) – The Colusa Mosquito Abatement District has recently been notified of two Dead Bird samples that were brought to the District for testing, have been confirmed positive for the West Nile Virus.
Both dead Bird samples were from the Grimes area and were brought to the District in July to be tested. District officials conduct the sampling of the carcass and send the samples off to be tested and confirmed by the lab at U.C. Davis.
The Colusa Mosquito Abatement District has been conducting mosquito control measures since the middle of June and will continue to the first part of November. Along with the control efforts, the Colusa Mosquito Abatement District has been monitoring for WNV and other mosquito-borne illnesses since mid-April, utilizing their Sentinel Chicken flock, Adult Culex tarsalis mosquito collections and the Dead Bird sampling program.
Colusa Mosquito Abatement District Manager Dan Kiely urges residents to notify the District of any dead birds they may find that have not been dead for more than 24 hours. District personnel will pick up any viable dead bird within the district boundaries to sample and send off for confirmation of mosquito-borne illnesses. The Colusa Mosquito Abatement District will accept dead birds to sample from towns that are not in the district boundaries but are in Colusa County, until a positive sample is collected from these areas. Residents may also call the Dead Bird Hotline at: 1(877) 968-2473.
To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes or contracting West Nile Virus, Colusa County residents are urged to take the following precautions:
- Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding.
- Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and the first two hours after sunset.
- When outdoors, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
- Apply insect repellent with DEET according to label instructions.
- Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.
- Contact the Colusa Mosquito Abatement District if you have problems with mosquitoes or know of a potential mosquito-breeding source within the District.
- Report any ill or dead birds.
- Consult veterinarians to properly vaccinate horses.
To find further information on West Nile Virus, go to www.westnile.ca.gov. This website has excellent information and current data on virus activity throughout the state.
To report mosquito problems, call Colusa Mosquito Abatement District 530-458-4966.
Remember the Colusa Mosquito Abatement District is not a County wide program to date, so the District will only respond to problems within the Districts boundaries. For more District information you can visit their website at: colusamosquitoabatementdistrict.com
To report dead birds online, visit the California Department of Health Services website at www.westnile.ca.gov or call 1-877-968-2473.