SC health officials explain what to do if you find a dead bird in your yard
South Carolina health officials are asking residents to let them know if you find a dead bird in your yard. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has a dead bird surveillance program and tracks West Nile virus in the spring and summer. DHEC says the program helps the agency identify where and when there is an increase in West Nile virus activity, as a high rate of disease-infected birds indicates an overall increase in the virus in a certain area. “Public participation in our dead bird surveillance program strengthens the agency’s surveillance efforts and can help identify West Nile virus before it begins to affect people,” said Dr Chris Evans. , state public health entomologist. “This is a unique opportunity for the public to proactively help their public health agency stay one step ahead of a potential health risk. Run, call 911!” Police encourage people to help others after sudden increase in overdoses Specifically, DHEC is asking residents to submit recently deceased crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows that do not appear to have been harmed and are not not decaying. WNV than other species, making them good candidates for testing. Birds other than crows, blue jays, house finches, and house sparrows will be tested on a case-by-case basis. What do you do if you find a dead bird? Deceased birds can be reported or submitted to DHEC at local health or environmental affairs offices until November 30. the bird with lined plastic bags. Keep the packaged bird cool until it can be placed on ice or in a refrigerator. If you cannot deliver the bird carcass to DHEC within within 36 hours of collection, freeze it until you can deliver it or have it shipped. Download and complete a West Nile Virus Dead Bird Submission and Declaration Sheet and bring the sheet and the dead bird to a local DHEC health or environmental affairs office during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday). Consult the DHEC interactive map of offices available for filing; WIC-only Public Health Services cannot accept birds. The level of WNV activity varies from year to year. In 2022, 78 birds were tested in 21 counties, nine of which tested positive for West Nile virus and two of which tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus. This data may indicate mosquito-borne disease activity, but is based on an adequate number of dead birds submitted. The DHEC Mosquito-borne Disease Visualization Map displays current and historical county-level information for identified non-human cases of WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases.
South Carolina health officials are asking residents to let them know if you find a dead bird in your yard.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has a dead bird surveillance program and tracks West Nile virus in the spring and summer.
DHEC says the program helps the agency identify where and when there is an increase in West Nile virus activity, because a high rate of birds infected with the disease indicates an overall increase in the virus in a certain area.
“Public participation in our dead bird surveillance program strengthens the agency’s surveillance efforts and can help identify West Nile virus before it begins to affect people,” said Dr Chris Evans. , state public health entomologist. “This is a unique opportunity for the public to proactively help their public health agency stay one step ahead of a potential health risk.
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Specifically, DHEC is asking residents to submit recently deceased crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows that appear unharmed and undecomposed. These bird species are more susceptible to WNV than other species, making them good candidates for testing. Birds other than crows, blue jays, house finches and house sparrows will be tested on a case-by-case basis.
What do you do if you find a dead bird?
Deceased birds can be reported or submitted to DHEC at local health or environmental affairs offices until November 30. To safely retrieve a dead bird, residents should:
- Do not touch a bird, dead or alive, with bare hands. Use gloves or pick up the bird with lined plastic bags.
- Keep the bagged bird cool until it can be placed on ice or in the refrigerator. If you cannot deliver the bird carcass to DHEC within 36 hours of collection, freeze it until you can deliver it or have it shipped.
- Download and complete a West Nile Virus Dead Bird Submission and Declaration Sheet and bring the sheet and dead bird to a local DHEC Health or Environmental Affairs office during regular business hours (from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday). Consult the DHEC interactive map of offices available for filing; WIC-only public health departments cannot accept birds.
The level of WNV activity varies from year to year. In 2022, 78 birds were tested in 21 counties, nine of which tested positive for West Nile virus and two of which tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus. This data may indicate mosquito-borne disease activity, but is based on an adequate number of dead birds submitted. The DHEC Mosquito-borne Disease Visualization Map displays current and historical county-level information for identified non-human cases of WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases.