Bird Tests Positive for West Nile Virus; County’s Public Health Department Recommends the Precautionary “Five Ds”

San Bernardino County, CA — A dead mockingbird that tested positive for West Nile Virus is, per the Department of Public Health, evidence that the disease is becoming more active in San Bernardino County. The County’s Mosquito and Vector Control Program received confirmation that a mockingbird collected June 18 in Redlands tested positive for WNV, so increased mosquito surveillance is underway; in the meantime, residents are encouraged to look for, and eliminate, any stagnant water on their properties. WNV transmission is an ongoing concern of the County’s Department of Public Health, which advises citizens to take the following precautions, billed as the “Five Ds”: drain or dump all standing water; at dawn and dusk, avoid time outside; or dress protectively, in shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts that are loose fitting and light colored; DEET, as in apply insect repellant containing DEET; and the fifth D, doors, which should be closed along with unscreened windows to keep mosquitoes from entering the home. Horses are also susceptible to West Nile Virus, though veterinarians have a vaccine available for them. Should you find a dead bird on your property, the San Bernardino County Mosquito and Vector Control Program asks that you call the toll-free hotline at 877/WNV-BIRD.