West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that generally causes flu like symptoms, but in more serious cases can cause encephalitis, a brain inflammation. Infected mosquitoes pass the virus on to birds, animals and people.

West Nile virus was first detected in North America in 1999 in New York, and in Pennsylvania in 2000. Prior to that it had only been found in Africa, Eastern Europe, and West Asia. West Nile virus cases occur primarily in the mid summer or early fall, although mosquito season is usually April-October.

The West Nile virus infects certain wild birds. The infected birds, especially crows, are known to get sick and die from the infection. Reporting of dead birds is a good way to check for West Nile virus activity in the environment and allow implementation of prevention and control measures to minimize the spread of the virus. The Pennsylvania Dead Bird Surveillance program for West Nile virus relies on Commonwealth citizens to report and submit dead birds seen around their property or elsewhere to their local health department.

John Sullivan is the West Nile Virus technician for Bradford County here at the Conservation District Office. He is responsible for detecting and controlling the mosquito population in this county. The Health Department is responsible for tracking the virus by testing dead birds and tracking the virus. Bradford County's West Nile Status.

Residents should take the following steps when they see a dead bird:

1. Go to the official Pennsylvania Health Department website www.westnile.state.pa.us to report dead bird sightings on-line or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) at any time or day of the week to ask questions and get instructions.

2. Pennsylvania residents are strongly encouraged to report and submit dead birds. Call the number above before bringing any birds to the Health Department. There are limitations as to which birds can be accepted for testing and when they can be accepted.

3. Only crows, jays, hawks, and owls will be accepted for testing. And only those without damage which have died recently. For the 2004 season, local health departments are collecting 5 birds per week from each county for testing for West Nile Virus.

4. Avoid bare-hand contact when handling dead birds. Use rubber gloves when handling a dead bird. If you do not have gloves, insert your hand into a plastic bag, grasp the bird carefully and invert the bag over the bird. Each bird should be placed in a tied plastic bag, and then placed inside a second tied bag.

5. If you are not submitting the bird for testing, the bagged bird can be placed in the trash.

6. If you have been asked to submit the dead bird for testing, take the bird to the nearest drop off site as instructed. Residents may visit the West Nile web site for future updates or other virus information or call the Department of Health toll-free telephone number above.