A crow found in southeastern Marion County is the first positive indicator that West Nile virus (WNV) has officially arrived in Indiana.

State health officials say that although this is the first time WNV, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, has been identified in the state, it is not unexpected. No human cases have been found in Indiana.

“This is not a surprise. We were expecting WNV to be found in Indiana either this year or next summer,” said Michael Sinsko, senior medical entomologist at the Indiana State Department of Health. “The State Department of Health, assisted in this area by the Marion County Health Department, has conducted a very intensive sampling of birds and mosquitoes this year.”

“West Nile virus is usually spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is not spread person-to-person,” said State Health Commissioner Greg Wilson, M.D