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West Nile Virus: Reporting a dead bird to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

The CDPH West Nile Virus Dead Bird call center is now open. You can report a dead bird by phone or online. To report by phone, call 1-877-968-2473 (1-877-WNV-BIRD). To make a report online, visit the CDPH Dead Bird reporting web page at westnile.ca.gov/report and fill out an online dead bird reporting form. After filing an online report you will also receive an automatic email response containing:

  • Bird carcass disposal advice;
  • Information on how to contact your local mosquito and vector control district or instructions for further action if it is determined the bird is in good enough condition for encephalitis virus testing (including West Nile virus);

*On Friday, October 11 beginning at Noon the call center will transition to online reporting only for the winter. The Mosquito & Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County accepts dead birds for testing year-round.

A graphic showing how West Nile virus circulates between birds, mosquitoes, humans, and horses..
How the West Nile virus spreads between birds and other hosts, including humans and horses. 

 

Infographic on how birds are susceptible to West Nile virus but people can't get the virus directly from birds.

For detailed information and FAQs on West Nile Virus plus links to other resources, go to the CDPH WNV website at westnile.ca.gov 

West Nile Virus and Horses:

Photo of a horse, head and neck.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

WNV can be very serious, even deadly, for horses. Visit this California Dept.  of Food & Agriculture website for more information: Equine West Nile Virus

 

 

 

Find out how you can protect horses from mosquitoes and WNV by reading these bulletins:

Horses and WNV fact sheetProtecting Your Horse
A horse grazing on grass under a willow tree.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.