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2 Counties Start West Nile Monitoring Program

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Mar 31, 2008 10:44 am US/Pacific

2 Counties Start West Nile Monitoring Program

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) ― West Nile vigilance is ramping up in Riverside and San Bernardino counties with monitoring of birds for any sign of the mosquito-transmitted virus.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties set out caged sentinel chickens as part of the West Nile monitoring program this month.

Blood tests are taken every two weeks to check for presence of the virus.

Seven birds have already tested positive for the virus in San Diego County. One has turned up in Sacramento County, one in Kern County and two sentinel chickens in Los Angeles County.

Last year in Riverside County, 16 human West Nile cases were diagnosed three people died. San Bernardino County had five cases and one death.

The virus is transmitted to humans and animals through bites from mosquitoes, which become infected when they feed on infected birds.

The most vulnerable are the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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