by GIVE THEM A HANDY WAY TO HELP. SOUTH CAROLINA, DHEC REQUEST YOUR HELP TRACKING WEST NILE VIRUSF I YOU CEOM ON CERTAIN SPECIES OF DEAD BIRDS DHEC WOULD BRING KELI FOR YOU TO BRING THE BIRD TO YOU SAFELY. IF YOU ARE NOW WARNINGS DO NOT TOUCH A DEAD OR LIVE BIRD WITH YOUR BARE HANDS, USE GLOVES OR SET YOUR BD IN DOUBLE PLASTIC BAGS. KEEP THE WRAPPED BIRD COOL UNTIL UYO CAN ICE IT AND DELIVERY TO A D-HACK OFFICE. THE AGEYNC LOOK FOR DEAD CROWS, BLUE JAYS, HOUSE FINCHES.
SC health officials explain what to do if you find a dead bird in your yard
Updated: 12:05 p.m. EDT March 15, 2023
Health officials in South Carolina are asking residents to let them know if you find a dead bird in your yard. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has a dead bird surveillance program and tracks West Nile virus in the spring and summer. According to DHEC, the program helps the agency identify where and when West Nile virus activity is increasing. A high rate of birds infected with the disease indicates an overall increase in the virus in a given area. “Public participation in our dead bird surveillance program strengthens the agency’s surveillance efforts and can help identify West Nile virus before it begins to affect humans,” said Dr. Chris Evans, State Public Health Entomologist. “This is a unique opportunity for the public to proactively support their public health agency to stay ahead of a potential health risk.” Police encourage people to help others after sudden overdose spike In particular, DHEC is asking residents to submit recently deceased crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows that do not appear to have been injured or decomposed. These bird species are more susceptible to WNV than other species, making them good test candidates. Birds other than crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows are tested on a case by case basis. So what do you do when you find a dead bird? Deceased birds can be reported to local health or environmental authorities or submitted to DHEC from now until November 30. Double plastic bag the bird.Keep the bagged bird cool until it can be placed on ice or in a refrigerator.If If you cannot deliver the bird carcass to DHEC within 36 hours of collection, freeze it until you can deliver or have it shipped. Download a West Nile Virus Dead Bird Submission and Reporting Sheet, complete it out and take the leaf and dead bird to a local DHEC Office of Health or Environmental Affairs during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday). View DHEC’s interactive map of available duty offices; Only WIC health offices cannot accept birds. The extent of WNV activity varies from year to year. In 2022, 78 birds from 21 counties were tested, nine of which tested positive for West Nile virus and two positive for Eastern equine encephalitis virus. This data may indicate mosquito-borne disease activity, but is based on a sufficient number of dead birds submitted. DHEC’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Viewer map shows current and historical county-level information for identified non-human cases of WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases.
Health officials in South Carolina are asking residents to let them know if you find a dead bird in your yard.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environment has a dead bird surveillance program and tracks West Nile Virus in the spring and summer.
According to DHEC, the program helps the agency identify where and when West Nile virus activity is increasing because a high rate of birds infected with the disease indicates an overall increase in the virus in a given area.
“Public participation in our dead bird surveillance program strengthens the agency’s surveillance efforts and can help identify West Nile virus before it begins to affect humans,” said Dr. Chris Evans, State Public Health Entomologist. “This is a unique opportunity for the public to proactively support their public health agency to stay one step ahead of a potential health risk.”
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In particular, DHEC is asking residents to submit recently deceased crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows that do not appear to have been injured or decomposed. These bird species are more susceptible to WNV than other species, making them good candidates for testing. Birds other than crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows are tested on a case-by-case basis.
So what to do when you find a dead bird?
Deceased birds can be reported to local health or environmental authorities or sent to DHEC from now until November 30th. To safely collect a dead bird, residents should:
- Do not touch a dead or live bird with your bare hands. Use gloves or use double plastic bags to pick up the bird.
- Keep the wrapped bird cool until ready to place on ice or in a refrigerator. If you cannot deliver the bird carcass to DHEC within 36 hours of collection, freeze it until you can deliver or ship it.
- Download and complete a West Nile Virus Dead Bird Submission and Reporting Sheet and bring in the sheet and dead bird during normal business hours (8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday). a local DHEC Office for Health or Environmental Affairs. View DHEC’s interactive map of available duty offices; Only WIC health offices cannot accept birds.
The level of WNV activity varies from year to year. In 2022, 78 birds from 21 counties were tested, nine of which tested positive for West Nile virus and two positive for Eastern equine encephalitis virus. This data may indicate mosquito-borne disease activity, but is based on a sufficient number of dead birds submitted. DHEC’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Viewer map shows current and historical county-level information for identified non-human cases of WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases.
