FRANCAIS

August 05, 2002

• Eight additional birds found in Manitoba have tested positive for the West Nile virus. The birds were submitted from the following areas:
• City of Brandon – crow, presumptive positive, confirmation test pending
• R.M. of Portage la Prairie – crow
• City of Selkirk – crow and magpie
• Lockport – blue jay
• R.M. of St. Clements – crow, presumptive positive, confirmation test pending
• Town of Kenton - magpie
• South Winnipeg – crow
• West Nile virus can be transmitted by mosquitoes. It can affect people, animals and birds. The risk to any one individual of becoming ill from West Nile virus continues to be very low in Manitoba. There are no confirmed human cases of West Nile virus infection in Manitoba.
• Manitobans can help by:
• reducing standing water around your property such as water that may collect in old tires, children’s toys, eavestroughs, wading pools or stagnant ponds, or under flower pots;
• minimizing mosquito bites by using mosquito repellent with DEET and reducing the amount of time spent outdoors during peak mosquito hours at dawn and dusk; and
• reporting dead birds only from the crow family which include blue jays, ravens, magpies, gray jays and crows.
• Public reporting of dead bird sightings from the crow family in Winnipeg and throughout rural Manitoba is important. The pick-up of dead birds is prioritized according to several factors such as the amount of time the bird may have been exposed and how close the bird is to a site where West Nile has already been discovered. Birds that are not picked up can be disposed of by using double bags and gloves. Dead birds or animals should not be touched with bare hands. There are no cases of contracting West Nile virus as a result of handling birds. Health Links and the Web site noted below have more detailed information on safely disposing of dead birds.
• All municipalities can play an active role by participating in efforts to reduce standing water, continuing to support public education and assisting with bird surveillance activities.
• A total of 24 birds in Manitoba have now tested positive for West Nile virus.
• Public information is available by calling Health Links at 788-8200 in Winnipeg or 1-888-315-9257 or checking the Manitoba Health Web site at http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv.

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Type of Bird	Location	Date Confirmed
crow	Winnipeg	July 15, 2002
crow	R.M. of St. Andrews	July 19, 2002
crow	Winnipeg	July 19, 2002
magpie	R.M. of Tache	July 23, 2002
crow	Winnipeg	July 24, 2002
crow	Winnipeg	July 25, 2002
blue jay	Winnipeg	July 25, 2002
raven	Winnipeg	July 25, 2002
blue jay	Winnipeg	July 26, 2002
crow	R.M. of Whitehead	July 26, 2002
crow	Town of Russell	July 27, 2002
crow	R.M. of Riverside	July 27, 2002
blue jay	Winnipeg	July 27, 2002
crow	Winnipeg	July 27, 2002
crow	Winnipeg	July 27, 2002
crow	R.M. of Louise	Aug. 1, 2002, presumptive positive
crow	City of Brandon	Aug. 5, 2002. presumptive positive
crow	R.M. of Portage la Prairie	Aug. 5, 2002
crow and magpie	City of Selkirk	Aug. 5, 2002
blue jay	Lockport	Aug. 5, 2002
crow	R. M. of St. Clements	Aug. 5, 2002 presumptive positive
magpie	Town of Kenton	Aug. 5, 2002
crow	Winnipeg	Aug. 5, 2002