Yolo County reports first sign of West Nile virus this year, found in dead Woodland bird

A bird in Woodland near Jack Slaven Park tested positive for West Nile virus this week, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District reported Thursday.

The house finch was found dead in a neighborhood of southeast Woodland between Harry Lorenzo Avenue, Parkland Avenue and Farmer’s Central Road.

“The report of a dead bird testing positive for West Nile virus means it is time for residents to begin protecting themselves from mosquitoes,” said Yolo County Public Health Officer, Dr. Aimee Sisson in a statement.

This comes after two dead birds and a sample of mosquitoes tested positive for the virus in Sacramento County earlier this week, according to officials, who say they will continue to monitor activity with widespread mosquito trapping and testing.

As of Thursday, a total of eight birds and two mosquito samples have tested positive for the virus in Sacramento County.

Last August, Yolo County reported its first resident death from West Nile since 2018. In Sacramento County, two people died and 54 contracted West Nile last year, a jump of nearly 1,000%, The Sacramento Bee reported.

According to the California Department of Public Health, no human cases have been detected in California this year, but 52 mosquito samples and 19 birds have tested positive statewide. These figures are up from the 15 samples of mosquitoes that tested positive this time last year.

Public health officials recommend protecting from the virus, which has no specific treatment or vaccine, by using preventative measures such as limiting time outside during dawn and dusk and draining stagnant water to eliminate breeding sites.

CDPH encourages residents to report dead birds by calling the department’s hot line at 877-968-2473 (877-WNV-BIRD).