DNREC calls on public to help monitor West Nile Virus

DNREC is asking for Delaware’s help in monitoring West Nile Virus.

They are calling on the public to report sick or dead wild birds. They said they only want people to report birds who have died or gotten sick in the last 24 hours.

More specifically, they are looking for: crows, blue jays, cardinals, robins, hawks or owls and clusters of five or more sick or dead wild birds of any species.

Once a bird is reported to DNREC, it will be brought in for testing to determine if it is carrying the mosquito-borne virus.

West Nile Virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease and is particularly harmful to both humans and horses.

The process of reporting birds helps monitor the virus and prevent any humans from contracting the disease.

“That’s just a monitoring program that just allows us to gage when the virus may first appear, where it might appear, where it might spread, and it helps us with control responses,” said Bill Meredith, Administrator for Delaware Mosquito Control.

DNREC has been using this method to keep track of West Nile Virus since 2002.