What types of birds carry West Nile virus?
The virus has been found in more than 150 bird species in North America. Some species may have no obvious signs of illness when infected. Others, such as crows, blue jays, magpies and ravens, get sick more often and can die. How do I report dead birds? Reporting dead birds is the first thing you can do to help identify West Nile virus in your community. (see our next article) What types of mosquitoes spread West Nile virus? There are 74 known species of mosquitoes in Canada. West Nile virus infection has been found in 10 of these, but it is more common in species that feed on birds. Examples include Culex pipiens, Culex restuans and Culex tarsalis. Not all of the 74 different species in Canada are found in all parts of the country. The actual numbers of mosquitoes in different areas will vary according to the time of year. Temperature and rainfall can also have a dramatic effect on mosquito populations. It is estimated that fewer than 1% of mosquitoes in any given area are infected wit
