A dead crow found in Mason County near Shelton that has tested positive for West Nile Virus is the first detection of the virus west of the Hood Canal.
After seven years of concern about the potential West Nile Virus threat, Jefferson and Clallam County health officials alerted residents Friday after the case was confirmed in neighboring Mason County.
Other cases have been confirmed around the state, but never so close to the North Olympic Peninsula.
It’s the first time the virus has been found so far west in Washington state, said Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties.
The discovery in late July was more than a month earlier than last year’s first appearance of the virus west of Cascades, which occurred in September 2008.
Although the West Nile Virus is mainly a bird disease, mosquitoes feed on infected birds and can pass the virus to people.
In humans, mild symptoms include fever, headache, and body aches. A few people may develop severe symptoms such as headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and coma. In rare cases, it can be fatal.
Avoiding mosquito bites is key to avoiding catching the virus.
West Nile virus infects, and often kills, certain wild birds: crows, jays, ravens, magpies, and raptors such as hawks and owls.
Increasing numbers of dead birds may be an indication of the virus in the community, health officials said in a prepared statement.
Dead wild birds can be reported at www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/Zoo/WNV/reportdeadbird.html or by phoning Jefferson County Public Health at 360-385-9444 or Clallam County Health and Human Services at 360-417-2274.
For more information, see www.doh.wa.gov/wnv.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
