A dead crow in Napa County tested positive for West Nile Virus in mid-July, according to county health officials
The infected bird marks the first instance of West Nile Virus in Napa County since 2023, the county’s Health and Human Services Agency said in a statement this week
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The crow was found just outside the city of Napa and was sent for testing
The tests showed the presence of West Nile Virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes that bite infected birds and can then carry the disease to humans and other animals
Most people–about four out of five–will be unaffected by symptoms and can have the disease and recover without even knowing. But about one out of 150 cases could result in potentially severe symptoms, including coma or death, according to the Cleveland Clinic
Culex mosquitos are the carriers of West Nile Virus in California, according to the Napa County Health and Human Services Agency
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It is a vector-borne disease, meaning the only known way to get the virus is to be bitten by an infected mosquito. There is no recorded instance of a bird transmitting it directly to humans, according to the Health and Human Services Agency
There have been rare instances of the disease being transmitted from a pregnant woman to a fetus, and through breastmilk, blood transfusions, and through an organ transplant, according to the Cleveland Clinic, which cited “a very few cases” out of the roughly 51,000 human cases detected in the United States since it was first recorded domestically in 1999
The crow in Napa County marks the 205th bird detected statewide with the virus in 2026. There have been two human cases and 670 positive mosquito samples this year throughout California, the county said
County officials recommended draining any standing water around the household, using insect repellent such as oil of lemon eucalyptus, and making sure windows and open doors have screens
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Mosquitos are most active at dawn and dusk
Residents were also asked to report dead birds at westnile.ca.gov/report. Reports can be made by phone at 1-877-968-2473 (1-877-WNV-BIRD)
