The U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, confirmed Oct. 20 that a dead crow found in North Carolina is positive for West Nile Virus, the first evidence of the disease found in the state. The crow was found September 27 at Jordan Lake State Park in Chatham County by a conservation biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. West Nile Virus can be transmitted to humans when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a human.

West Nile Virus originates from Africa, west Asia, and Europe. It was first found in the United States last summer in New York City. Since then West Nile Virus has spread down the eastern seaboard of the United States. Evidence of the virus has been found in eleven states, including North Carolina. Friday, Oct. 13, a dead crow in Virginia was confirmed to have West Nile Virus.

“This isn’t a surprise,” said State Health Director Dennis McBride. “We knew the virus could be spread by migratory birds. That’s why we have been on the lookout for any signs. We’ve told the public that if they saw dead birds, especially crows, they should report those findings and let us send the bird to the lab for testing. This just shows that our educational efforts have paid off.”

Because it is late in the mosquito season and the weather is becoming cooler, mosquito populations are declining, reducing the risk of mosquito-borne disease to horses and humans. For this reason, public health officials will not spray pesticides in the area where the bird was found