Dead bluejay, west nile virus

We found a dead bluejay in our yard a few days ago. Kind of dry looking. We didn't think much of it.

Now, today, we read in the paper that there have been 3 dead bluejays found in our very own zipcode area that have tested positive for the West Nile virus!!

I'm a mosquito magnet, for whatever reason. Me, one of my brothers, the same brother's daughter and one other neice. We're all mosquito magnets.

I'm kinda scared to get out of the house!

Uggh! I hate using DEET, but frankly it's the only thing that works. I've tried many, many, many so-called "natural" repellent sprays, but DEET-sprays are the only ones that have worked. I hate them. But I love yard work.

Our city doesn't seem to be able to afford permethrin (sp?) spray for ALL neighborhoods (just the rich ones). We've been using a permethrin (sp?) spray for our yard. But I hate using these poisons.

Better this, though, than getting sick.

I have checked out this poison and found that it's main environmental damage is related to runoff in waterways (it kills young fish spawn), but that isn't a problem where I live (no runoff). But I do hate using it.

It does work though.

But I barely ever use it.

As much as I hate being holed up inside because of potential sickness from misquito-born viruses, I hate even worse using pesticides.

Damn, this sucks!!!

here in LACo we have WNV cropping up all over the place, with dead birds, the rare dead person, and now dead tree squirrels. This is going to be a problem for a number of years, but eventually the remaining birds and squirrels will be descendents of the ones who had stronger immune systems to fight it off, and as people get exposed in their younger/healthier years they will be resistant as elderly people. In places where WNV has been around forever, I don't think it kills many people. and REMEMBER: FLU kills tens of thousands of Americans every year and nobody even cares. Don't panic, just clean up water puddles and use DEET.

I do landscape and garden consulting, and we've been recommending people to strongly consider adding a few extra bucks to include screened-in enclosures.

It used to be a nuissance (ordinary mosquito bites), but now it can be life-threatening for certain folks (especially the elderly or those that are already immune-compromised).

No doubt about it; it sucks!

The West Nile Virus is nothing to mess with. I got sick with it in May, and all kidding aside I almost died. I was in the hospital for a week. I live in Arizona and we currently have triple the cases of anywhere in the world with some 275 human cases reported thus far. I understand the fear of Deet but when used in moderation it's safe and effective. There are other precautions as well that can help avoid getting exposed.

I know a house-painter that got sick as hell last year. He's kinda like me, he didn't go to the doctor, even though was sick as hell, until he started puking blood.

He's not quite back to normal.

How healthy are (were) you? Sorry for being blunt. I'm just wondering if you're relatively young and in shape or are in a key demographic to get in trouble with WNV.

Thank you for asking, and it's a very good question. I am a very young and healthy 42 year old woman. I hadn't even had as much as a cold in over 18 months when I became ill. It was the end of April
(a little early for WNV) and I was moving, in my backyard I moved a tub of stagnant water and millions of mosquitoes few out, I got bit several times that day, so I know exactly when it happened and I became sick 13 days later. I can't began to explain how sick I was, but I can say that the medical field was very uneducated and didn't even consider testing me, even as I was being re-diagnosed with four different aliments, including Valley Fever (also a prominent disease in Phoenix Az). In fact, I wasn't even tested until I brought it to their attention that I had every symptom of the WNV. After doing my own research I was amazed that the medical field in Arizona wasn't better prepared, I have found articles and warnings that were published about the predicted forecast of WNV in Arizona but obviously it didn't help.
I wouldn't be fooled that WNV usually only makes the elderly sick, it can make anyone sick. The thing we need to realize is that they really don't have the data needed to educate the public, that's why about once a week new warnings are announced, probably due to the amount of cases now being reported.
I also have to agree with the reply posted by kestrel91316, stating that immune systems will develop against WNV, but in extreme cases like my own, the common flu can not be compared.
You can receive information on WNV at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that is by far the best wealth of information you can get, you can also see the case count in your state, if your living in Arizona you'll be amazed.