The West Nile Virus and Dead Bird Call Center will transition to accepting internet reports only for the winter season on Friday, October 11th, at 12 pm. That day will mark the end of the WNV dead bird testing season for 2024. To date this year, approximately 5,488 dead birds have been reported, 1,578 have been tested, and 458 have tested positive for WNV.
Winter protocol: Beginning in the afternoon of October 11th, those calling to report a dead bird will hear a message encouraging them to visit westnile.ca.gov to fill out an online report. Online reporters will receive an appropriate automatic email response with carcass disposal advice, how to contact their local VCD, or instructions for further action if the bird is suitable and the local agency is testing. We will review each internet report and follow up as necessary.
Testing by RNASound cards: For the agencies with continued winter WNV dead bird testing who do not test in-house, RNASound cards may continue to be shipped to DART (UC Davis Arbovirus Research and Training Laboratory). Turnaround time will be longer, however, and there will be some periods of closure around major holidays.
If you have specific questions or concerns about year-round testing for your agency, please do not hesitate to reach out:
Marie Cerda
Vector Ecologist and Dead Bird Program Coordinator
California Department of Public Health, Vector Borne Disease Section
850 Marina Bay Parkway
Richmond CA 94804
(510) 412-6255 | Marie.Cerda@cdph.ca.gov