West Nile virus found in dead crows in Brewer

0
9

Two dead crows in Brewer were found to have been infected with West Nile virus.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the infections do not represent an outbreak or a cluster, the city said Friday afternoon in a public notice.
West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquito bites, and in recent years Maine has seen periodic isolated infections in mosquitoes and the animals they have bitten.
People also can be infected through mosquito bites, but eight in 10 never show symptoms, which can include body aches, diarrhea, fever, headaches, rashes or vomiting, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Severe infections are rare, but can lead to death in about 0.6 percent of cases, according to the U.S. CDC.
Mainers can take precautions against these viruses by wearing insect repellant, long-sleeve shirts, socks and long pants; draining pools of standing water; and installing or repairing broken window screens.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the dead animals as cows. They were crows.

webintern@dakdan.com