March 27, 2020
West Nile virus season is fast approaching, and the California WNV and Dead Bird Call Center (877-WNV-BIRD; 877-968-2473) will be live Monday, April 13th. Public online reporting (www.westnile.ca.gov) will also continue. Call center hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday; Sunday staffing will likely be added later.
Important resources:
- Guide to the WNV Dead Bird Program. New! This comprehensive guide takes you through all faucets of the program and offers helpful information to maximize dead birds as a surveillance tool. The RNA preservation card protocol is also included.
- Tutorial: Safe Practices in Dead Bird RNA Preservation Card Sampling outlines proper safety techniques for sampling dead birds for RNA preservation (a.k.a RNASound) cards. (It is also located on the website: www.westnile.ca.gov, under the “Resources” tab, under “Tutorials.”)
- Salvage Permit. This memorandum of understanding with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) allows the program to salvage dead birds for WNV testing. Please keep a copy in each vehicle used for carcass transport. This document is valid until 2024. Note: CDFW investigates wildlife mortality events and maintains first rights to the threatened and endangered birds listed in the permit. If you find one of these protected species (dead), please let the call center know.
Please send me a brief email at leslie.foss@cdph.ca.gov to state:
- Which species of dead birds you would like to pick up for WNV sampling/testing
- If you can start April 13th
- Any modified operations due to Covid-19
How to reach us: Margaret Kerrigan will be responding to many dead bird reports in April-May. Her desk line is 510-412-6251; my number is 510-412-6255. You can reach the call center staff at the direct agency line: 510-412-4601, and at arbovirus@cdph.ca.gov.
I look forward to hearing from you. Free to contact me if you have any questions now or during the season.
Thank you,
Leslie
Leslie Foss, M.S.
Arbovirus Biologist
Vector-borne Disease Section
California Department of Public Health
850 Marina Bay Parkway, Richmond, CA 94804
Phone: 510-412-6255
Email: leslie.foss@cdph.ca.gov