Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Veterinary Public Health - Rabies Control Program
7601 E. Imperial Hwy.
Bldg. 700 Suite 94A
Downey, CA 90242
Tel: (562) 401-7088
Fax: (562) 401-7112 vet@ph.lacounty.gov
The number
of dead birds that are testing positive for
West Nile Virus (WNV) in Los Angeles
County this year is at its highest level
since 2004, which was the first full year
after the virus arrived in our county.
This
increase may have various causes. The number
of dead birds testing positive for WNV is
influenced by how many dead birds are
reported by the public and how many are able
to be tested, not just how many truly have
WNV.
Nonetheless, Los Angeles County residents
should be aware of a possible increased risk
of exposure to WNV, and should take
precautions to avoid mosquitoes, which
transmit the virus. For more
information on WNV, please click
here.
Year
Number of
dead birds testing positive for WNV between
Jan and Sept 24 of each year
2008
377
2007
127
2006
63
2005
138
2004
292*
*The 2004 number may be artificially
low. In 2004, WNV testing of dead
birds was stopped in ZIP codes where WNV-positive
birds had already been found, in order to
conserve resources. This restriction
was not in place in 2005, 2006, 2007, or in
2008 (as of Sept 3, 2008).
