A dead Steller’s jay found in Snohomish earlier this month has tested positive for West Nile virus, health officials said Tuesday.
It marks the second time in a month a bird from Snohomish County has been found to be infected.
Cooler weather, which either chases off or puts mosquitoes into hiding, reduces the chances that the bugs could transmit the virus to humans this year.
But health officials are still urging precautions, such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and using insect repellant, to reduce the chances of being bitten by a mosquito and infected with the virus.
Some virus-carrying mosquitoes find shelter in the winter and survive to lay infected eggs in the spring, said Mike Young, a senior environmental health specialist with the Snohomish Health District.
Overall, the Snohomish Health District has received reports of more than 400 dead birds this year, a sign that they may have the virus. Sixty-seven were sent off for testing, Young said.
Health officials were notified on Tuesday that a Steller’s jay, found under a power line Oct. 10 on 15th Street in Snohomish, tested positive, he said.
Most birds found near power lines were killed by electricity rather than West Nile virus, he said.
The other bird in Snohomish County that tested positive for the virus, a crow, was found in Everett. Health officials were notified of the test results 12 days ago.
The two infected birds from Snohomish County are among the 12 statewide that have tested positive for the virus this year. Infected birds also were found in Island, King, Yakima and Cowlitz counties, said Deanna Mill, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Health.
Some people bitten by a mosquito infected with the West Nile virus may develop mild flu-like symptoms that go away without treatment. 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 of serious illness.
In Washington, three people were diagnosed with West Nile virus, two people in Pierce County and one in Clark County, Mill said.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
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