Health Services
West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a disease that can cause encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, in humans and other animals. Transmission occurs when mosquitoes become infected with WNV when they feed on infected birds. These infected mosquitoes can then transmit the virus to humans, birds, and animals.
WNV is not spread by person-to person contact or directly from birds to people.
West Nile Virus Surveillance
In an effort to monitor the spread of WNV throughout the state, the Illinois Department of Public Health, in conjunction with local health departments, tests mosquitoes and dead birds for possible infestation.
The surveillance season begins in early May and ends by October. During this period, Knox County Health Department collects mosquito samples as well as dead birds appearing to have died due to natural causes to submit for laboratory analysis.
For the 2010 surveillance season the State Health Department is allowing the following birds to be submitted for West Nile virus testing.
| All perching birds (passiforms) such as: | ||
| crow | blue jay | grackle |
| starling | robin | finch |
| sparrows | cardinals | swallows |
| flycatchers | cat birds | mockingbirds |
| warblers | wrens | |
| (No waterfowl, larger birds such as vultures, or endangered birds will be tested.) | ||
If a dead bird on the list is found between May 1st and October 15th and appears to have died of natural causes, you should report the "sighting" to the Knox County Health Department at 309-344-2224.
Remember, the State Health Department allows for only a limited number of birds per county to be tested, so not every bird reported can be tested.
Additional Information:
