Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

West Nile Virus is turning up in sentinel chickens

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

There are no confirmed human cases of West Nile in Delaware so far this year, but the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Tuesday the first detection of the virus in its sentinel chickens. 

DNREC’s Mosquito Control section takes blood samples from 20 outdoor sentinel chicken stations statewide each week from early July into October. 

Officials say West Nile was found last Monday at a station in northern New Castle County. 

Delaware’s first human case of West Nile was in 2002. 17 human cases were confirmed statewide in 2003, including 2 deaths. There have been fewer than 5 human cases confirmed in Delaware since then, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services website. 

The most recent death from West Nile in Delaware was a 73-year-old New Castle County man in 2018. 

Most people infected with West Nile do not develop symptoms, but about 20 percent can develop a mild illness. 

The state warns about the potential for mosquito-borne illness this time of year, including West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.  

Related Content