West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus has been in the news for a few years now, and many of us have heard of confirmed cases closer and closer to home. Mr. Knuth even approached me just before the start of school this year to ask if we could purchase a supply of insect repellent for use when our students in the Junior High work on projects in our ravine, and we now have a supply on hand. It is just a wise and safe thing to take such precautions, and you are probably doing the same thing with your children at home.

The main purpose of this notice is to let parents know that a large black bird was found near our playground on Friday, August 27, and the Berrien County Health Department's Environmental Safety Office was contacted. Many of our children were aware of the bird as were a few parents who were around, and I could see quickly their concern. Actually, it was obvious to me that even younger children are informed of the interest health officials have in testing dead birds, and it was good to see this level of awareness on, their part. Hopefully sharing what I found out from the Health Department, while it may not necessarily relieve your anxiety, will provide you with accurate information.

• First, the Health Department is primarily concerned with testing blue jays and crows. The bird near our playground was large and black and very well may have been a crow. It has been disposed of but not taken to the Health Department.
• Second, the Health Department can only test birds that have been dead for less than 24 hours. They take a throat swab and send the sample to Lansing for analysis. The bird near our playground was badly decomposed, had obviously been dead longer than 24 hours and the Health Department could not test it.
• Third, Health Department officials told me that dead birds do not pose a threat of transferring West Nile Virus to us. The danger is being bitten by mosquitoes carrying the virus. Again, the bird on our property was not a danger.
• Fourth, and this is the part you probably aren't going to like to hear: West Nile has been found in Berrien County, specifically in Benton Township, St. Joseph Township and other areas.
• Finally, and I don't mean to be flippant here, but while there haven't yet been any birds identified with the disease in Lincoln Township, the birds and mosquitoes can't read street signs. What I mean is, and what Health Department officials shared, is that our dead bird could have flown here from South Bend or from just across the street. In other words, mosquitoes don't know any boundaries, and identifying the presence of mosquitoes carrying West Nile in neighboring townships doesn't mean they'll stay in those townships.

I learned quite a bit from the Health Department today and felt it best to pass this information along to our families so that you know exactly what we found, how it was handled and what facts the Health Department shared regarding the presence of West Nile Virus in our community.