Residents Urged To Call In Sightings Of Dead Birds
Aug 10, 2008 Filed in: General
Announcements | Your Action
Needed
Suffolk County has activated a hotline for residents
to report certain types of dead birds, which may be
infected with West Nile virus.
Residents may report sightings of dead crows and blue
jays to the Suffolk County Department of Health
Services’ Public Health Hotline, by calling (631)
787-2200 between 9 AM and 4 PM, Monday through
Friday. After hours residents can leave a message
that will be received by the department’s
surveillance team.
Reported birds must be dead no longer than 24 hours and show no sign of trauma (e.g. animal attacks, automobile collision, drowning). Birds infected with West Nile virus often congregate at pools or birdbaths due to the apparent “thirst” – whether real or neurological – from the viral infection. Suffolk County Department of Health Services is interested in picking up:
• Corvids – crows and blue jays
• Birds of Prey – hawks, falcons, owls
• Exotics or unusual bird species (often susceptible to West Nile virus infection) or peculiar circumstances (die-off of multiple birds)
West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne infection that can cause encephalitis, is now established across the United States, having been first detected in Suffolk County in 1999 and each year thereafter through 2007. Humayun J. Chaudhry, D.O., M.P.H., Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, urges residents to be extra careful and do everything possible to reduce or eliminate standing water and avoid mosquito bites.
To report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, please call the Department of Public Works’ Vector Control Division at (631) 852-4270.
For medical questions related to West Nile virus call (631) 853-3055.
For further information on West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health Services’ web site at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health.
Reported birds must be dead no longer than 24 hours and show no sign of trauma (e.g. animal attacks, automobile collision, drowning). Birds infected with West Nile virus often congregate at pools or birdbaths due to the apparent “thirst” – whether real or neurological – from the viral infection. Suffolk County Department of Health Services is interested in picking up:
• Corvids – crows and blue jays
• Birds of Prey – hawks, falcons, owls
• Exotics or unusual bird species (often susceptible to West Nile virus infection) or peculiar circumstances (die-off of multiple birds)
West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne infection that can cause encephalitis, is now established across the United States, having been first detected in Suffolk County in 1999 and each year thereafter through 2007. Humayun J. Chaudhry, D.O., M.P.H., Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, urges residents to be extra careful and do everything possible to reduce or eliminate standing water and avoid mosquito bites.
To report mosquito problems or stagnant pools of water, please call the Department of Public Works’ Vector Control Division at (631) 852-4270.
For medical questions related to West Nile virus call (631) 853-3055.
For further information on West Nile virus, visit the Department of Health Services’ web site at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health.
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