By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee

El Dorado County officials today received confirmation that a bird found in the county has tested positive for West Nile virus.

The bird, a swallow, was found Aug. 22 south of the town of El Dorado and is the first bird to test positive for the virus this year, according to a news release from the Environmental Management and Health Services departments. No human cases have been reported in the county this year.

“Confirmation of our first West Nile virus positive birds means the virus is circulating in the community and there is a heightened risk of infection in humans,” Fred Sanford, supervising environmental health specialist with the Environmental Management Department, said in a written statement.

Officials urge residents to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

Mosquito surveillance programs in the county include trapping and testing mosquitoes, reporting neglected swimming pools and reporting and testing dead birds and tree squirrels. The Health Services Department also has instituted human surveillance activities, and physicians are encouraged to test human cases of viral meningitis and encephalitis for West Nile virus.

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