WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The West Nile Virus has been found in a dead bird in Marathon County by the county’s Health Department.
The bird was found on August 22nd, putting Marathon with Lincoln, Portage, Langlade, Shawano, and Clark as counties with confirmed West Nile findings. Becky Mroczenski, Epidemiologist for Marathon County, says that extra measures should be taken to avoid mosquito bites, as they may have fed off the bird or others like it.
She said, “Limiting time outside during that dawn and dusk time, using insect repellant, making sure that items that hold water in your yard, maybe plastic containers or pots that don’t have plants in them, that you get rid of those or empty them out.”
Mroczenski says that even with the mosquito season coming to an end soon, counties are still monitoring for West Nile through the end of October and are still looking for reports of dead birds to test.
“If you live in a county where it’s not been reported, you can call the Dead Bird Reporting Hotline, and they’ll give you instructions and how to get that bird submitted for testing,” Mroczenski said.
That number is 1-800-433-1610. An updated coverage map with counties confirmed is available through this link.
While the West Nile Virus is not typically deadly in humans, people with low immune systems and the eldery can develop nervous system illness from the virus that can be fatal. The average person may experience a fever, headaches, and skin rashes.
