Infected Crow is NorCal's Latest Case of West Nile Virus

A dead crow that tested positive for West Nile Virus on Monday is northern California's latest reported case.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is . Just in the past week, reported cases are up 40 percent.

An article published Wednesday in the Washington Post quotes the CDC, indicating there have been 1,590 cases of West Nile Virus reported in the U.S. human population this year, including a small number of deaths.

Acccording to Solano County Mosquito Abatement District Manager Jon Blegen, 19 Solano County birds have tested positive for the virus so far this year, including this week's case of the infected crow in Vallejo.

In San Mateo County, nine cases have been reported to date. The San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District (SMCMVCD) encourages all residents to report any findings of dead animals immediately.

Strategies To Avoid Infection

According to public health officials, the best way to avoid becoming infected with the virus is to avoid mosquitos.  The SMCMVCD .

Below are details of the nine cases reported so far this year in San Mateo County:

• Red-shouldered hawk picked up June 11 in Woodside (WNV+)
• Eastern gray squirrel picked up July 3 in Menlo Park (WNV-chronic)
• Lesser goldfinch picked up July 22 in Redwood City (WNV-chronic)
• House sparrow picked up July 31 in Atherton (WNV-chronic)
• Canada Goose picked up July 31 in San Mateo (WNV-chronic)
• American crow picked up August 2 in Atherton (WNV-chronic)
• Eastern gray squirrel picked up August 2 in Menlo Park (WNV-chronic)
• Mourning dove picked up August 9 in Half Moon Bay (WNV+)
• Red-tailed hawk picked up August 10 in Half Moon Bay (WNV-chronic)