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West Nile virus found in 6 birds from Ocean County, including 2 grackles
By MATTHEW McGRATH ? STAFF WRITER ? July 24, 2010
TOMS RIVER ? West Nile Virus is infecting a family of bird species that is not typically affected by the virus, Ocean County health officials announced.
Typically, crows and blue jays are infected by the virus. They are in the corvid family of birds. So far, two grackles have tested positive for the virus. The grackle is a iridescent blackbird in the icteridae family.
The grackle infections were announced in a county Health Department statement about the spread of West Nile in Ocean County.
Six birds have tested positive for the virus in Ocean County this month, health officials said. Of the six, five were found in Toms River and one was found in Brick.
A total of nine birds have tested positive for the virus throughout the state. The state has tested 61 birds, with 27 of those from Ocean County.
"The Health Department responds to calls regarding dead birds," Jennifer Crawford, a county communicable disease specialist, said in a prepared statement. "If a bird tests positive locally, that is an indication that the virus is present in Ocean County."
The first confirmed case of West Nile in the state this year was found in a dead bird collected July 6 in Toms River.
West Nile can infect people. Most human West Nile infections produce no symptoms or mild-to-moderate symptoms that include fever, headache and body aches and may be accompanied by a skin rash and swollen lymph glands, health officials said. More serious cases have been reported in the very young, elderly and those with chronic diseases or compromised immune systems.
The disease is spread by mosquitoes. Infected birds cannot spread the disease to people, health officials have said.
Health officials have asked residents to report dead birds to the county Health Department. Call 732-341-9700, ext. 7502 or 800-342-9738, ext. 7502 to report the location of dead birds.
Matthew McGrath: mmcgrath@app.com
By MATTHEW McGRATH ? STAFF WRITER ? July 24, 2010
TOMS RIVER ? West Nile Virus is infecting a family of bird species that is not typically affected by the virus, Ocean County health officials announced.
Typically, crows and blue jays are infected by the virus. They are in the corvid family of birds. So far, two grackles have tested positive for the virus. The grackle is a iridescent blackbird in the icteridae family.
The grackle infections were announced in a county Health Department statement about the spread of West Nile in Ocean County.
Six birds have tested positive for the virus in Ocean County this month, health officials said. Of the six, five were found in Toms River and one was found in Brick.
A total of nine birds have tested positive for the virus throughout the state. The state has tested 61 birds, with 27 of those from Ocean County.
"The Health Department responds to calls regarding dead birds," Jennifer Crawford, a county communicable disease specialist, said in a prepared statement. "If a bird tests positive locally, that is an indication that the virus is present in Ocean County."
The first confirmed case of West Nile in the state this year was found in a dead bird collected July 6 in Toms River.
West Nile can infect people. Most human West Nile infections produce no symptoms or mild-to-moderate symptoms that include fever, headache and body aches and may be accompanied by a skin rash and swollen lymph glands, health officials said. More serious cases have been reported in the very young, elderly and those with chronic diseases or compromised immune systems.
The disease is spread by mosquitoes. Infected birds cannot spread the disease to people, health officials have said.
Health officials have asked residents to report dead birds to the county Health Department. Call 732-341-9700, ext. 7502 or 800-342-9738, ext. 7502 to report the location of dead birds.
Matthew McGrath: mmcgrath@app.com
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