Vacaville bird test positive for West Nile virus
(Stock image; Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
A bird collected last month tested positive for West Nile virus, health officials confirmed this week.
In a statement, the Solano County Mosquito Abatement District and the Solano County Public Health Office said the bird was found in June. The statement did not say where in Vacaville the bird was located.
Last August, officials said the first known case of West Nile virus was discovered in Dixon.
West Nile is transmitted through mosquito bites. The virus can also travel through birds and squirrels, where it is often fatal to those creatures. County officials are urging residents to report sightings of dead birds and squirrels by calling 1-877-968-2473.
West Nile can also be transmitted to humans, but officials say no human cases have been reported anywhere in California. Most people who are infected with West Nile virus won’t show any symptoms, though one in five individuals afflicted with the virus will experience flu-like symptoms.
Anyone who experiences symptoms should contact their primary care doctor for an evaluation.
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