West Nile Virus

The Marquette County Health Department’s Division of Environmental Health is no longer submitting bird or animal specimens from Marquette County for testing. Citizens are encouraged to continue reporting sightings of dead or sick birds or animals via Internet at the State's Website or you may call the Michigan Department of Community Health toll free at 1-888-668-0869.

Wear long sleeved shirts and pants when working outside.

Use an insect repellent with DEET.

Avoid the outdoors during the hours of dusk to dawn. This is the time when mosquitoes are most active. If you must be out, apply an insect repellent with DEET.

Mosquito proof your home. Repair or replace any torn screens and check for gaps in and around doors and window frames.

Remove standing pools of water in and around your home. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes - their own "Shangri-La".

Dead birds should be disposed properly. Do not handle the bird with your bare hands. Use gloves, a shovel or invert a plastic bag over your hand. Scoop the bird into the bag. Secure the bag and then place in a second plastic bag. Tie securely and deposit in your garbage can.

If you enjoy feeding birds in your backyard, take some simple precautions to protect your feathered friends and yourself. Empty and disinfect your bird feeders frequently. Place them in a solution of household bleach and warm water. Soak for a few minutes and then scrub with warm soapy water and rinse well. Rake the ground area around your bird feeders to remove bird droppings. Empty your bird baths often, ideally every evening and fill with fresh water in the morning.

Individuals with fever and signs of encephalitis and/or meningitis should be tested for West Nile virus. Symptoms of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain linings) include severe headache, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness, convulsions and paralysis. Area residents who have questions with regard to symptoms suggestive of West Nile Virus infection should consult with their family physician.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture's web page is an excellent resource for learning about how West Nile Virus is transmitted, who and what it affects, how to easily identify a Corvid (Blue Jay, Crow, Raven), and many other aspects of the disease. This site is updated twice a week with birds tested and the results of the testing for the State of Michigan, by county. We strongly encourage you to use it.

Another excellent resource site on the Internet is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's West Nile Virus site. Just go to www.cdc.gov and use the search engine by typing in WNV. This site will also allow you to access other West Nile Virus sites throughout the country.

If you have any questions, we encourage you to visit the other web sites below or call Carole Watson at our Environmental Health Division at 906-475-4195.

For Michigan specific information check out the following Emerging Diseases Website:

Marquette County Health Department
Environmental Health Division
184 US 41 East
Negaunee, Michigan 49866
(906) 475-4195 (phone)
(906) 475-6500 (fax)

The most common carriers of West Nile Virus are those birds in the Corvid family: Blue Jays, Crows and Ravens.

Blue Jay

Crow	Raven

West Nile Virus is carried by mosquitoes who have fed on infected birds. Humans, birds and mammals can be infected with the virus by being bitten by an infected mosquito. Citizens are reminded of the need to protect themselves and their homes from mosquitoes. There are several ways in which individuals can protect themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes:

West Nile Virus

Fight the Bite!