County seeks help spotting West Nile

To offset budget cuts to the West Nile virus program this year, public health officials in Snohomish County are asking for help from the public in reporting dead birds.

Public health officials are most interested in hearing reports of dead crows, ravens and jays because it could signal the presence of West Nile virus. Anyone spotting one that has died recently of what appears to be natural causes is asked to call the health district.

“The more eyes we have looking for sick birds, the better,” said Mike Young, who works in the Snohomish Health District’s West Nile virus program. “We can’t be everywhere.”

Dead birds infected with the virus are often found about two weeks before human cases are reported, Young said.

West Nile virus primarily is a bird disease. Mosquitoes become infected by biting infected birds, then pass the virus to uninfected birds, humans and horses, according to the state Health Department. Crows, ravens and jays are tested for the virus because they are known to die from it.

Some people bitten by an infected mosquito may develop mild flulike symptoms that go away without treatment, health officials say. In a small number of cases, the virus can cause serious illness, including fever and inflammation of the brain. People older than 50 have the highest risk for serious illness.

With no cases of humans infected with the virus to date, the health district board cut spending for West Nile programs, from $250,000 to $100,000, to free up money for other programs.

If West Nile activity increases, a request may be made to the board for more funding, said Rick Mockler, deputy administrator.

The public health agency will continue to trap mosquitoes countywide as part of the program. In previous years, the biggest concentration of mosquitoes were found in the Marysville, Everett, Lake Stevens and Snohomish areas, Young said.

It’s not too early for people to begin measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites, such as not going out at dusk or dawn, when mosquito concentrations are highest; draining even small pools of standing water, such as those found around flower pots; and checking screens on windows and doors to ensure they fit tightly, said Dr. M. Ward Hinds, health officer for the health district.

Health officials recommend that people apply insect repellent including DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus when going outside.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,470 cases of humans with West Nile last year, 88 of whom died.

The virus was first detected in Snohomish County in October 2002, when a dead crow found near Snohomish tested positive for the virus.

Although the virus has been expected to infect humans in Washington since then, no one has caught the virus here, although nine state residents have been infected while visiting other states.

“Last year we were the only state in the lower 48 without any West Nile virus activity,” Hinds said. “The probability is probably higher we’ll see it in Washington this year.”

The virus has spread to people in other Western states, including Idaho, Oregon and California. However, no humans have contracted the disease in British Columbia or Washington, said Donn Moyer, spokesman for the state Health Department.

“If the (virus) migration trend continues, it certainly seems as if we’re next on the list,” Moyer said.