The Tennessee Department of Health announced yesterday (Sept. 17) that nine dead birds found in Shelby County appear to be infected with West Nile virus (WNV) according to preliminary tests. The birds, all blue jays found in zip code areas 38117 and 38119, have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmatory testing. This is the first time that WNV has been identified in Tennessee. No human cases have been reported.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can infect horses and humans. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds and then transmit the virus to humans and animals through bites. The virus cannot spread from horse to horse or from human to human.

West Nile virus has been commonly found in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia, and the Middle East, but did not appear in the U.S. until the early summer of 1999. More on WNV can be found at https://thehorse.com/wnv.

Health officials in Tennessee have been conducting surveillance activities for WNV in humans, horses, and birds. Tennessee’s WNV information can be found at the Department of Health’s web site, https://www.state.tn.us/health/