The first birds this year in El Dorado and Placer counties have tested positive for West Nile virus, authorities said.
In El Dorado County, a Western scrub jay was found July 6 in the Cameron Park area, according to a joint news release by the El Dorado County Environmental Management and Health Services departments.
In Placer County, a resident in the Sheridan area reported a dead Western kingbird, according to a news release by the Placer Mosquito & Vector Control District.
West Nile virus activity has been reported in 30 California cities this year, but no human or horse cases of the virus have been reported in the state, authorities said.
Virginia Huber, Tahoe division manager of the El Dorado County Environmental Management Department, said in a statement that confirmation of the county's first West Nile case in a bird means the virus is circulating between birds and mosquitoes and there is a heightened risk of infection in humans.
"Residents are urged to take extra precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites," Huber said.
West Nile virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito that has fed on an infected bird. The illness is not spread person-to-person.
Officials in both counties encourage the public to report dead birds to the State Dead Bird Hotline at (877) 968-2473.
For more information, view www.westnile.ca.gov, www.edcgov.us/emd or www.placermosquito.org.
– Chelsea Phua
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