Southern 7 Health Department has confirmed one positive test for West Nile Virus in a dead bird and one new case in mosquitoes for the southern seven county region.
This is the first case of West Nile Virus documented in a dead bird, and the fourth case in mosquitoes by the health department in 2024. No human cases have been reported so far this year in the region.
Southern 7 Environmental Health Services staff collected the dead bird in Pulaski County. Health officials are stressing the importance reporting dead birds from unknown reasons to the local health department for testing. Birds must have eyes still intact and show no obvious signs of decay.
Continued weekly testing of mosquito traps throughout the seven country region resulted in the fourth documented case of West Nile in mosquitoes on July 17, this time in Massac County. Previous positive tests in mosquitoes were trapped in Alexander, Hardin, and Johnson Counties.
Traps were placed in each of the lower seven counties in May. Trapping mosquitoes will continue until early fall.
