Contact Us
University of California Cooperative Extension Ventura County
669 County Square Drive, Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: 805.645.1451
Fax: 805.645.1474
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The office will be closed for the following holidays:
December 24-25 - Christmas Holiday
December 31 - January 1 - New Year Holiday
January 20 - MLK Day
Will Bird Damaged Fruit Cause West Nile Disease
No! At this point in time all research on West Nile Virus (WNV) indicates that the virus must be acquired via a blood infection. Data from the 1999 epidemic in New York indicates that over 100 species of birds can be infected with WNV. However, even the birds must get their infection by being fed on by a viruliferous mosquito. All 100 species of birds died from the infection. The fact that they had WNV was determined from examination of the carcasses. Infection in humans occurs when we are bitten by viruliferous mosquitoes.
Washing the fruit and cutting out the damaged portion (which you should do under any circumstances) will be adequate for safe use of the fruit.