Brown County Reports First Positive Test for West Nile Virus

Officials in Brown County report the first bird there to test positive for West Nile Virus for 2020.

According to the Brown County Health Department, monitoring for West Nile consists of lab tests for mosquito batches, dead crows, blue jays, robins and other perching birds, along with testing sick horses and humans with West Nile Virus-like symptoms.

If you see a sick or dying perching bird, contact your local health department. They will decide if the bird will be picked up for testing.

Humans catch West Nile when they are bitten by a Culex mosquito who has been feeding on an infected bird.

Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. However, four out of five people with West Nile will not show any symptoms.