VALLEY BIRDS TEST POSITIVE FOR VIRUS; NO HUMAN CASES.

Byline: Daily News

LANCASTER - A dead crow found in west Lancaster and two birds at Edwards Air Force Base have tested positive for West Nile virus, officials said.

In addition, the virus has been confirmed in four more chickens from the west Lancaster ``sentinel'' flock in which the virus was confirmed in one bird last week, said Antelope Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District officials.

To date no human or horse cases have been reported in the Antelope Valley, officials said.

A dead raven found last October in Pearblossom provided the first confirmation of West Nile virus in the Antelope Valley, but no further sign of the disease was found locally until last week's confirmation of the test on a sentinel chicken.

The mosquito abatement district keeps eight chicken flocks around the valley to detect mosquito-borne viruses such as West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis and western equine encephalitis. The chickens' blood is tested regularly for disease.

As of Sept. 10, the California Department of Health Services reported a total of 486 human West Nile virus infections and 13 fatalities in California.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture reported 253 infected horses, of which 115 died or had to be euthanized in California.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,309 human cases and 35 deaths nationwide.

The virus is spread by mosquitoes that bite infected birds and then pass it on to people or other animals.

Mosquito abatement officials asked the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sources and to report ones that district technicians won't see, such as neglected swimming pools, dirty ponds and fountains and other standing water in back yards and on private property.

The mosquito abatement district can be reached at [phone].