Health Officials Determine Heat Wave Killed Birds
Millburn determines West Nile virus not involved in deaths, warns of mosquito population.
Millburn's Heath Department has determined a large number of dead birds in town last week were not the result of the deadly West Nile virus, but were probably caused by the recent heat wave.
Health Officer Lou Anello explained humans cannot get the virus from a dead bird if it’s infected, only from an infected mosquito.
"It's not the dead birds residents should worry about," animal control officer Joe Bielski said. "Residents should be concerned with stagnant water where mosquitoes tend to breed."
"Basically what we are trying to do is control the mosquito population," Anello said. The Essex County Mosquito Commission will go out and spray if [people] contact them, Anello said. He encouraged residents to call the commission at (973) 239-3366 to help reduce the mosquito population.
Officials said the number of the dead birds is not unusual for this time of year.
Although, residents have been seeing dead birds throughout town, officials cannot confirm if the birds are infected unless tested four to six hours after death.
While no infected birds have been found in Essex County, four birds have tested positive for West Nile virus, state Department of Health officials said. One bird was found in Burlington County, two in Monmouth County and one in Morris County.
The state confirmed there have been no incidents of the virus affecting humans in New Jersey since last year's first infection was confirmed.
If any more dead birds are found, residents should dispose of them in a bag in their own trash can.
KLF
10:23 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Mr. Anello, we know that birds won't transmit the virus to humans. Point is, dead birds all over the place is a sign of West Nile virus being transmitted by mosquitos. Those same mosquitos can infect humans. And I don't buy it that it's the heat wave. How do you know if you have not tested the birds?
Cindy
11:41 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
what about bird flu (Avian influenza) which can transmit from dead birds to humans? the likehood could be low, but its disturbing to hear an inclusion from a health official without any testing (or is there any)?
Cubby
3:40 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
KLF: Just wondering: How do you know that dead birds is a sign of West Nile??
I am definitely not a bird expert (nor am I a friend of Mr. Anello), but people and pets die from the heat, so why not birds? Additonally, if you read about West Nile, you will know that infection is very, very rare and it is even more rare that someone becomes serioulsy ill from it. I think we need to bring this down a notch.
Personally, I'm a lot more concerned about teenagers getting hit by cars in town.
C. D. Snutts
10:45 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Hey Cubby, just curious, how many dead people did you see lying around town that week?
JD
4:05 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I agree that we should be more concerned about the teenagers getting hit by cars, but perhaps the teenagers wouldn't get hit by cars if they learned how to use a crosswalk and paid attention when crossing the road.
KLF
5:06 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/wnv_birds.htm/
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/environment/west-nile-virus-has-profound-effect-on-birds-485470/
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120711/NEWS/120719969/-1/NEWS
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/west_nile_virus/
http://www.newjerseybirds.com/wnv.php
http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/westnile/documents/wnv_factsheet.pdf
Melissa Goldberg
6:12 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
How does one make a determination without a test? Not one bird in Millburn has been tested. I am not concerned about the individual birds, I am concerned on the overall issue of why these birds are dying. Is it something that is in the air? Water? Soil? Something that our kids could touch, put in their mouths? Our dogs could eat?
Always Hopeful
7:50 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Could be coincidental but as I write this there is a blue jay in our driveway who appears to be ill. I left a VM for animal control.