The discovery of 133 dead birds so far this year with West Nile virus is a caution flag for health officials that the disease's season is starting earlier in Sacramento and throughout California.
"We were shocked to find a dead bird so early on," said Luz Maria Rodriguez of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District.
Without a clear reason – winter and spring were drier than normal – district officials are trying to determine why virus activity has stirred earlier than usual, she said.
Last year the district didn't find a dead bird until June, according to Rodriguez. So far this year, three infected dead birds have turned up: the first in Herald on March 5, another in Antelope on May 13, and the third near the Sacramento Zoo on May 23.
Placer County has so far dodged the bullet, reporting no West Nile virus activity this year, said Kelly Burcham, field supervisor for Placer Mosquito and Vector Control District. He expects to see signs of the virus in his county later this summer.
Statewide, the dead, infected birds also have been found over a wider geography.
Across California, public health officials have discovered 133 dead infected birds in 18 counties. Last year at this time, they had logged only 33 West Nile-infected dead birds in 12 counties.
However, there have been no human cases in California this year; by June last year there was one.
"It's still too early to make predictions about the severity of the West Nile virus season in California, but we're monitoring the situation closely, and we urge Californians to take precautions against the virus," said Suanne Buggy, spokeswoman for the California Department of Public Health.
West Nile virus spreads between humans and animals through mosquito bites. The West Nile virus season is temperature-dependent and usually lasts from about April to September, said Rodriguez.
Most birds can harbor the disease, Rodriguez said. Vector control officials usually find the virus first in dead birds, then mosquitoes, chickens, horses, and finally humans. So far this year they've not found virus-carrying mosquitoes in Sacramento or Yolo counties.
The district is responding differently to the West Nile threat this season, Rodriguez said. The Sacramento area now has many foreclosed homes with abandoned pools, creating a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes. The district has been busy sending technicians out every day to place mosquitofish or apply mosquito-killing pesticides.
Most infected people will not exhibit symptoms, according to the California Department of Public Health. Milder symptoms include fever, headache, body ache, vomiting and skin rash. Fewer than 1 percent of infected people experience serious symptoms, such as disorientation, tremors, convulsions, vision loss, paralysis and coma.
Marie Heilman, 42, of Winters is among the unfortunate few. In 2006, she contracted West Nile virus and became so ill her husband was asked if wanted to sign a do not resuscitate order on her behalf.
Heilman recovered, but she suffered hearing and vision loss. She also is afflicted with vertigo, brain damage and other health problems. Heilman believes she was bitten by a virus-carrying mosquito while gardening in her yard.
"You need to protect yourself," Heilman said. "I noticed a busted pipe in the yard next door and lots of mosquitoes around there, but never took it to my brain to do something about it."
Call The Bee's Jane Liaw, (916) 321-1074.
