Aug 22, 2002 By Steve Ferris 2 min read

Wednesday’s update noted the second Fayette County case and included a map showing the virus has been found in birds or mosquitoes in 37 counties. On Saturday, the map showed 31 counties with confirmed cases.

Cappella said everyone who calls his office about finding a dead bird is being told to keep it cold and bring to the state health department office, which is in the Fayette County Health Center on New Salem Road. The birds are then sent to a laboratory for testing.

He said he has been receiving many complaints about mosquitoes and requests from residents to set up traps for the insects. Trapped mosquitoes are also sent for testing, but so far none have been virus carriers.

First detected in the United States in New York in 1999, the virus can cause encephalitis, a potentially fatal brain infection.

The health department says people 50 and older and those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk, but anyone can contract the disease.

Mosquitoes acquire the virus by feeding on dead birds and pass it on to people, animals or other birds. It is not spread by person-to-person contact and there is no evidence that people can catch it by handling infected animals.

Birds known to be susceptible to the virus are blue jays, crows, owls and hawks.

Cappella and the health department say eliminating all standing or stagnant water from around houses is best way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.