WEST NILE VIRUS DETECTED IN WOOD COUNTY

(07/31/2004)
The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department says a blue jay infected with West Nile Virus was found in the Wood County community of Mineral Wells on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, the state Department of Health and Human Resources announced that dead birds infected with West Nile had been found in Hardy and Jefferson counties in the Eastern Panhandle.

West Nile can cause flu-like symptoms in humans and potentially fatal swelling of the brain.

No human cases of West Nile have been reported in West Virginia this year. Last year, there were two, with at least one death.

Local health departments are accepting dead birds for evaluation.