SUNY Cortland – Environmental Health & Safety

West Nile Virus Policy #24

West Nile Virus

Contents:

  1. Introduction
  2. Notification Procedure
  3. Clean up Procedure
  4. Controlling West Nile Virus
  1. Introduction

West Nile Virus (WNV), a member of the Japanese encephalitis complex of flavaviruses, is transmissible by mosquitoes, and can cause human illness. Mosquitoes, primarily bird feeding species, are the primary carriers of WNV, although WNV has been detected in some ticks. The natural transmission cycle involves a bird-mosquito cycle.

NOTE: Not all mosquitoes transmit WNV. Only certain species have this capability.

Public health agencies must conduct surveillance to identify the presence of mosquito-borne diseases as per New York State Department of Health guidelines. Public health agencies must be prepared to intervene using those methods to mitigate further circulation of the disease in nature. Four approaches are to be followed:

1)Education;

2)Larval habitat source reduction;

3)Larval mosquito control; and

4)Adult mosquito control.

The New York State Department of Health placed a high priority for WNV surveillance on information from dead or ill birds. This consists of two components:

1)A reporting system for sightings of ill or dead birds to track possible increases due to a reappearance of WNV, and

2)Testing selected birds for the disease.

To accomplish this, it is important to report the sighting of ill or dead birds to the local health department detailing date, time, and location. The local Health Department is to record all sightings giving crows and blue jays priority – especially if ill or “freshly dead” (<24 hours).

II.Notification Procedure

Any sightings of ill, or especially dead, crows or blue jays should be reported to the office of Environmental Health and Safety at extension 2508, or if after hours contact the County Health Department Office of Environmental Health at (607) 753-5035. Information pertaining to the species of bird, location, time of day the dead or ill bird was discovered, and name of individual who discovered the bird should be reported. Not every dead crow needs to be tested for WNV. If the bird is not going to be collected for testing, you may be instructed how to dispose of it.

NOTE: Never handle a dead bird barehanded.

  1. Collection Procedure

Using two pairs of nitrile gloves and an apron or laboratory coat, observe the following procedures when collecting a dead bird.

1)Open a heavy plastic bag and place it over the bird, exercising care not to touch the bird with the edge of the bag.

2)Lift the bird in the bag allowing the edges of the bag to fall around the bird.

3)Gather the edges together taking care not to have excess air in the bag with the bird.

4)Tie the bag off.

5)Place the bag and bird either in a second bag or in a 5-gallon pail.

6)Remove the outer pair of gloves and place in the bag or pail with the bird.

7)Seal the bag/pail.

8)If the bird is not to be picked up by the Health Department immediately (within one hour) place the bird on ice.

9)Label with the following information:

Date of collection

Time of collection

Type of bird

Location bird was found

Collector’s name, campus address, and campus phone

Add biohazard label if available

10)Remove second pair of gloves and dispose in the trash.

  1. Controlling West Nile Virus

Removing areas of standing water is the best defense to inhibiting where mosquitoes lay their eggs. Mosquitoes can develop in any standing water that lasts more than 4 days. To reduce the mosquito population:

  • Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water holding containers.
  • Dispose of used tires, do not allow them to collect water
  • Drill holes in the bottoms of trashcans and recycling containers that are kept outdoors.
  • Make sure roof gutters drain properly, and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
  • Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
  • Properly chlorinate outdoor pools.
  • Drain water from pool covers.
  • Use landscaping to eliminate stagnant water from collecting.

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