West Nile virus found in bird in Jefferson County
The West Nile virus has been discovered in a dead blue jay in Jefferson County, the first bird testing positive for the disease this year in Jefferson County and the second animal to test positive in the county after a horse tested positive earlier this summer.
The dead bird was the 49th confirmed case of West Nile virus in Wisconsin this year in statistics compiled through Oct. 3 by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Six humans have had confirmed cases of West Nile virus, along with five horses and 38 birds. The human cases include two in Dodge County and one each in Chippewa, Grant, Marathon and Racine counties.
Two birds have been discovered with the disease in Dane County, the only two cases of West Nile virus discovered in the county so far this year.
Citizens who find sick or dead crows or blue jays are encouraged to call the Dead Bird Hotline at 1-800-433-1610.
