From the Sacramento Bee
May 31, 2022
Summer has not yet begun, but the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District confirmed Tuesday that they already have found one bird that has tested positive for West Nile virus.
“Finding the first positive bird is always significant because it provides an early warning sign for the disease,” said District Manager Gary Goodman. “It confirms that the virus is present, provides a good indication of where we may find positive mosquito samples and where human cases may develop later in the season,”
Found in Davis, the bird is an American crow and is the second West Nile-positive bird discovered statewide this year. Vector districts in Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Orange and Riverside counties already have confirmed West Nile activity in mosquito samples, according to the westnile.ca.gov website. Contra Costa officials reported the first dead bird with the virus statewide on May 17 — it was found in an area of Brentwood close to Discovery Bay.