SC health officials explain what to do if you find a dead bird in your yard
South Carolina health officials are asking residents to let them know if you find a dead bird in your yard. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has a dead bird surveillance program and monitors West Nile virus during the spring and summer. a high number of birds infected with the disease indicates an overall increase in the virus in a particular area. “The involvement of the public in our dead bird surveillance program strengthens the agency’s surveillance efforts and can help identify West Nile virus before it begins to affect humans,” said Dr. Chris Evans, state public health entomologist. “This is a unique opportunity for the public to proactively help their public health agency stay ahead of a potential health risk.” More news: Stephen Smith’s mom raises money for independent exhumation, autopsy for her son Run, call 911!” Police are encouraging people to help others after a sudden increase in overdoses, in particular, DHEC is asking residents to submit recently deceased crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows that appear uninjured and not perishing. are more susceptible to WNV than other species, making them good candidates for testing. Birds other than crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows are tested on a case-by-case basis. Deceased birds can now be reported or submitted to DHEC through November 30 at local health or environmental offices double the bird with plastic bags Keep the bird cool in bags until it can be placed on ice or in a refrigerator If you cannot deliver the bird carcass to DHEC within 36 hours of collection delivery, then freeze it until you can deliver it or have it shipped .Download and complete a Dead Bird Submission and Reporting Sheet for West Nile Virus and submit the sheet e n the dead bird to a local DHEC Health or Environmental Affairs office during normal business hours (8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday). View DHEC’s interactive map of available drop-off offices; WIC-only public health departments cannot accept birds. The amount of WNV activity varies from year to year. In 2022, 78 birds were tested from 21 provinces, with nine testing positive for West Nile virus and two positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus. These data may indicate mosquito-borne disease activity, but they are dependent on sufficient numbers of dead birds being submitted. DHEC’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Viewer map shows current and historical county-level information for identified non-human cases of WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases.
South Carolina health officials are asking residents to let them know if you find a dead bird in your yard.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has a dead bird surveillance program and monitors West Nile virus during the spring and summer.
DHEC says the program helps the agency identify where and when there is an increase in West Nile virus activity, as a high number of birds infected with the disease indicates an overall increase in the virus in a given area.
“The involvement of the public in our dead bird surveillance program strengthens the agency’s surveillance efforts and can help identify West Nile virus before it begins to affect humans,” said Dr. Chris Evans, state public health entomologist. “This is a unique opportunity for the public to proactively help their public health agency stay ahead of a potential health risk.”
More news:
In particular, DHEC is asking residents to submit recently deceased crows, blue jays, house finches, and house sparrows that appear uninjured and have not perished. These bird species are more susceptible to WNV than other species, making them good candidates for testing. Birds other than crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows are tested on a case-by-case basis.
So what do you do when you find a dead bird?
Deceased birds can now be reported or filed with DHEC through November 30 at local health or environmental affairs. To safely retrieve a dead bird, residents must:
- Do not touch a bird, dead or alive, with bare hands. Use gloves or wrap the bird with double plastic bags.
- Keep the bird cool in the bag until it can be placed on ice or in the refrigerator. If you cannot deliver the bird carcass to DHEC within 36 hours of collection, freeze it until you can deliver it or have it shipped.
- Download and complete a Dead Bird Submission and Reporting Sheet for West Nile Virus and bring the sheet and dead bird to a local DHEC Health or Environmental Affairs office during normal business hours (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday). View DHEC’s interactive map of available drop-off offices; WIC-only public health departments cannot accept birds.
The amount of WNV activity varies from year to year. In 2022, 78 birds were tested from 21 provinces, with nine testing positive for West Nile virus and two positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus. These data may indicate mosquito-borne disease activity, but they are dependent on sufficient numbers of dead birds being submitted. DHEC’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Viewer map shows current and historical county-level information for identified non-human cases of WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases.