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Pima County confirms first case of West Nile this season — in a chicken

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Health officials have detected the county's first case of West Nile virus this season — in a chicken.

The chicken, part of a flock that health officials use to detect the virus early in the season, tested positive last week, said Patti Woodcock, a Pima County Health Department spokeswoman.

The virus has not been detected in humans or in the thousands of mosquitoes tested by the Health Department.

The virus, which sickens roughly 20 percent of people who contract it, can be spread when mosquitoes bite an infected animal and later bite a human.

Most people infected with West Nile suffer no symptoms, while some people will develop flulike symptoms known as West Nile fever.

A very small portion of people infected — roughly 1 percent — will progress to a neuro-invasive disease that can result in death or permanent disability.

While cases in Pima County can occur throughout the year, West Nile usually peaks in late summer and lasts until there are two or three overnight freezes.

In 2007, Pima County reported 14 West Nile cases, including two deaths, in what was considered to be a relatively mild season for the virus.

Across the state this year, health officials have reported two human cases along with nine infected chickens in six counties, according to The Associated Press.

Pima County health officials have been monitoring mosquitoes and standing-water pools since the beginning of spring.

If people have a concern about the virus or find standing water, they can call the Health Department's West Nile hot line at 243-7999.