Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dead Bird Found With West Nile Virus In Shasta County

Jon Hayes
/
Flickr, Creative Commons

Shasta County has its first case of West Nile virus for 2015 — a dead bird.

The Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District says a dead bird was found with the virus just north of Anderson. Mosquitoes transmit the virus from bird to bird when they bite them.

The virus is fatal to many birds, so a dead bird can serve as an early warning that the virus is in the area. The virus can also be deadly for humans and horses if they are bitten.

According to the California Department of Public Health website, this is one of the first dead birds with West Nile found in the North State this year. No cases have been reported in Butte, Glenn or Tehama counties. There have been three in Yolo County and one in Yuba County.