Solano County residents are encouraged to report dead birds to the West Nile Virus and Dead Bird Call Center at 1-877-WNV-BIRD (968-2473), or go online to http://westnile.ca.gov/report_wnv.php  to submit an electronic report. Dead birds will be tested for West Nile virus  as part of the Solano County Mosquito Abatement District (SCMAD) mission to monitor for mosquito-borne disease throughout the county of Solano.

Birds act as reservoirs for West Nile virus. When an infected bird is bitten by a mosquito, that mosquito then becomes infected with West Nile. As that mosquito continues to take multiple blood meals from other unifected birds, it passes around the virus- infecting more and more birds. These birds continue the transmission cycle by infecting other mosquitoes. 

Many birds species are especially vulnerable to West Nile virus, and will usually perish from exposure to the virus. The SCMAD encourages residents to report these birds to the dead bird hotline so that we can utilize the information attained from the carcass. Birds that test positive will help in our surveillance efforts to track and control West Nile virus in the areas of the county that it is detected. SCMAD does not accept doves, pigeons, chickens, or quail in our surveillance program as these species do not die from WNV exposure.