Once the District receives notification that a bird has been reported in Contra Costa County, a District employee may pick up the bird and bring it back to the District for testing.  Final results take about a week, and positive results are posted on our website. If testing confirms the bird carried West Nile virus, District employees will place mosquito traps in the neighborhood to collect mosquitoes and have them tested for v irus if needed. We also increase efforts to find young larval mosquitoes in nearby water sources.

 

Not All Birds are Tested, But All Reports are Important

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Occasionally, the District will receive notification of several birds from the same neighborhood.  In those cases, we do keep a record of the reports and focus our surveillance efforts in the area, but we may not pick up all of the subsequent birds in one area for testing. The reports are still important, and so continue to report dead birds even if we do not pick them up.

In cases when a District employee does not pick up a reported bird, carefully dispose of the bird:

1. Wear disposable gloves and:
2. Turn a bag inside out, and pick up the bird with the bag.
3. Turn the bag right side out and place the first bag into a second bag.
4. Close the bag with a knot or rubber band and place it in an outdoor garbage container.

With your help, these birds help the District focus prevention efforts to reduce the risk of West Nile virus for you and your neighbors.