• West Nile Virus (WNV) is carried by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. 
• Infected mosquitoes spread the virus to humans.  Infected birds DO NOT spread the virus to humans. 
• In areas where WNV is found, less than 1% of mosquitoes are infected with the virus. 
• Most people who become infected with WNV do not become ill.  Most of those who become ill will show only mild flu-like symptoms. 
• Severe illness such as encephalitis or meningitis occurs in less than 1% of infected people (most common in persons over 50 years old).

• Between dusk and dawn, limit outdoor activity. 
• Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks.  Do not wear cologne.
• Use repellants containing DEET, Picardin, or oil of eucalyptus.  Follow the manufacturers directions carefully.  For more information about mosquito repellents, click here.
• Empty any receptacles in your yard that hold water such as bird baths, plant pots, old tires, buckets, barrels, pet bowls, and clogged gutters.  Standing water is where mosquitoes breed.  Female mosquitoes lay eggs that hatch into larvae.

Mosquito larvae

• If you have areas of standing water that cannot be removed, use a solid larvicide to kill mosquito larvae.  Larvicides are available at local hardware and home & garden centers.  Larvicides containing Bti do not harm people, pets, birds, fish, or plants when used as directed.

How can I help monitor for WNV?

• During May through October deliver freshly dead blue jays,  crows or robins with no decay that have mysteriously died on your property to the Environmental Health Section of the Hamilton County Health Department.
• Call Environmental Health before coming at 209-8110 to confirm that birds are still being received from your area. Once a West Nile positive bird is detected in your area there is no need to continue testing.
• Pick up the bird using a glove or clear plastic bag (place hand in bag, grasp the bird, pull bag over hand), double-bag the bird inside a clear leak-proof bag. 
• Keep bagged bird on ice or refrigerate do not place the bird in close contact with food (e.g., not in a household refrigerator or picnic cooler with food)
• Deliver the bird to the Health Department at 921 East 3rd Street in Chattanooga, Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 
• You will be asked to fill out a data form with your contact information and information about the bird.  Click here for the data form.  You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this file.

Blue Jay

Crow

Robin

The U.S. Geological Survey has a website with WNV data that can be viewed by the public.  The U.S.G.S. obtains WNV data from the CDC. The CDC, in turn, obtains the data from state health departments that have agreed with CDC on public dissemination of that data.  To look at these data, go to http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov/index.html.

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