In August, the first Delaware County bird testing positive was a robin from the village of Delhi. Hamilton said area residents should not be unduly alarmed, as it's suspected that this virus is distributed throughout the state. People are only infected with West Nile virus when bitten by an infected mosquito, according to the Delaware County Public Nursing Service, and as soon as the area receives its first hard frost, there should be little or no mosquito activity. On Friday, the state Department of Health reported that 68 dead birds had tested positive for the West Nile virus, and that figure included the bird from Delaware County. Few people will be infected, and most people exposed to West Nile virus experience no symptoms or a mild flu-like illness and recover.
Most people recover on their own without medical treatment.
To reduce the mosquito population around the home and property, residents are advised to reduce or eliminate stagnant water, remove discarded tires, clean clogged gutters and turn over unused wading pools and wheelbarrows. Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn, said officials, who encourage wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. Weeds and tall grass provide an outdoor home for the adult mosquito. The Delaware County Public Health Nursing Service is sending some birds for testing by the state Department of Health to identify any that might have died of the West Nile virus. Dead bird sightings in Delaware County may be reported to the local health department at 746-3166.