They found a dead bird!! cause for concern??

[FutureNurse2005]

my kids just brought me a dead bird and apparently they were playing with it for a few minutes prior.

i've taken the bird away and thoroughly washed their hands...but is there something else I should do or be concerned about?

thanks!

[prmenrs, RN]

Check with the health authorities re: West Nile Virus. They may want to bird, bag it in a ziplock. Pick it up thru the plastic--don't touch it. Call their pediatrician, too. Might think about changing the kids clothes and giving them a bath, too.

[zenman]

And remind them not to pick up dead critters!

[Rapheal]

Most of the dead birds we see where I live have had an initial injury such as being hit by a car. I am sure you are worried about it being diseased- but that most likely isn't the case. I would just wash them really good as suggested by previous poster and call your pediatrician if you are really worried.

[laughingfairy]

LICE!!!!

Honestly we found a dead bird last summer. No sign of injury but DNREC told us only a few birds are tested for west nile, and to be more concerned about lice,fleas and maybe ticks...

I got lice from a bird as a small child (4?) and can still remember the treatments as well as handeling the bird. We are talking less than 2 minutes.

YUCK!!!

[movealong]

Where I live, WNV hit about 2 years ago. I found a dead bird in my yard, and others in my neighborhood. And I called our health dept. They said they had enough samples that they did not need to check the birds. I was just advised to bag it and dispose of it.

[laurasc]

my kids just brought me a dead bird and apparently they were playing with it for a few minutes prior.

i've taken the bird away and thoroughly washed their hands...but is there something else I should do or be concerned about?

thanks!

You're from Ontario and they are expecting a real problem with West Nile this year. Notify your local health department right away and tell them that your kids were playing with it prior. If you can keep the bird in a ziploc bag all the better. But it's extremely important that you let the health department know.

Laura

[zenman]

I would just wash them really good as suggested by previous poster and call your pediatrician if you are really worried.

Why would you want to wash a dead bird? What you cooking up? :rotfl:

[FutureNurse2005]

thanks for your replies! I called the local health department and they said to dispose of it and bathe the kids. they are only testing crows and blue jays for WNV.

anyway, thanks again!!