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Resident worried about West Nule as 15 dead crows found in backyard By MELANIE HENNFSSFY Aller fmndmg 15 dead young crows in her backyard over the past montb and a haif, a Mfilton resident bas become mncreasingly concemed West Nule virus is living in her backyard. But until Pamela MacAleese discovers a dead aduit crow on ber property, the birds ean't be sent for testing, leaving her won- dering if her six-year-old son is being * exposed to a potentially-deadly disease. * "When you read about West Nile, you always think it won't harm you. Now, pos- sibly it's in my own backyard, my sanctu- ary," she said. The reason the -birds can't be tested. explained Halton Environmental H-ealth Supervisor Matthew Ruf, is because they're too small and young, according lu criteria from the Iaboratory that runs the tests. "The birds were six inches long and they didn't have ail of their feathers. We're looking for 16 to 18-inch adult bîrds," he said. Mr. Ruf said at this ime of year. ils flot unusual to find many dead baby bîrds thal bave been tosscd f rom their nesîs. If she does have a nesl nearby, then il's flot uncommon," lie said. But. Ms MacAleese said the closest ire to the pond \wb ere she fournI the dead bird'. is three-iind-a-halt'metre.s tAwty. -With such a higb numbLr of îhen tm- ing up, il just doesn'î ,ein rîght. We're getting no answers. I jusî keep hîlîîîsg a brick \,sal." At the beginning of June. bealtb (lepart- d <.5. 'Vé, c < l c .i1 L<.' oi iiîy were going lo be tested for West Nile virus. She said she was later informed the resuits were inconclusive because the crows were too young. But Mr. Ruf said the birds were acîually neyer sent for testing, just disposed of, because tbey didn't meet testing criteria. Enviromnental Health Manager Maurice Dickhout said the fact Ms MacAleese tbougbt the birds were being taken for test- ing and the resuits were inconclusive was a misunderstanding on ber part. "We colleet ail the information on al dead birds, but we can'I possibly submiî tbem aIl for testing," be said. Mr. Dickbouî pointed out ibere's a bigh deaîh rate among baby bîrds and tbey bave many predators sucb as cals and larger birds that can easily îoss îhemi fromn their nests. He .idded since Ms MacAleese bas been so concerned, healîb deparirneni staff planned 10 pick up the latesi îwo birds she I ound and decide if îbey could be- iested f'or West Nile, .long ssitb assessing the area %vhere tbe birds were discovered. Wbetber the birds qualîfy to be sentilfor iesting was unav.iilable ai press lime. So lar in Milton, 179) dead bird', have been recorded by the Regions b ealîb dep.u'tment Ibis season. anid talnumber keeps climbhing. Wliile only IsSu have te'.tcd positive for the disease. Mr. Rut' ,aid we're fîeading int classic West Nîle virus season. 50 more cases could come up. Witb the deaîh 1(111 clIimbiîîg ai the MacAleese residence, Ms MacAleese said and (lielt. cighbolxuî '. 1dmcii v. ho ios c o play in ber backyard. "Now, be's not allowed to play outside until we've searched the backyard and spray bim witb mosquito, repellent," she said. Across tbe region, 1,407 dead birds have been recorded by thse bealth department. Last year, 4,584 dead birds were reported altogether, 358 Iocally. 0f those, 15 were confirmed to carry West Nile virus, witb only two of tbem being in Milton. Two borses and four mosquito pools in the area alsmi tested positive for the disease. Mr. Ruf' said îwo more bîrds were sent in Tuesday for testing. He saîd wben resi- dents cal1<) report a dead bird. staff run tbrougb a lisI of criteria to decide wbeîber il sbould be picked up for testing. 'Tbey need to be in good condition. We can't submit birds tbat are roîlen." Mr. Ruf said. addiîsg tbe bird also bas 10 bc a crow or bluejay. [le said if the bird isn'l picked up by the healtb departmeni. it wîll be explained bo the residerit bow bo properly dispose oi i. In an effort to reduce tbe nunther of adult miosquiIoes Iransmittîng tbe disease, the Regùmîî bas been applying larvicide 10 catch basins in t-lton. So far. 68 standing waier siîtes base bad a larvieide treatment, 21 of ibo'e ii i Mlton. -Mis is Up fhoi the 12 sites larvicided in Iuîssîin 2(X)3. 'Vo report a dead bird or standing m ater. conLicit te Regicmns b eaib departmneni ai (91)5) 825-6(XX) Meîaio,îî'li',iiit,.sN4on b/ ietlied i a The Canadian Champion, Friday, JuIy 23, 2004- 1R-AI & EXHAUST aMUFFLERS *e(JAS TANKS RAIATORS Drive 1in Service ses man st. 1., Unit 10 * 588t8 DRIVERS NEEDED TO TAKE PATIENTS TO CANCER TREATMVENT. Volunteer drivers urgently needed to take cancer patients to the hospital for treatment. If you have a car and some time to spare, please cali John Perrott, Transportation Convenor at (905) 878-9286 or (905) 332-0060. Milton patients are transport- ed 10 Hamilton, Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto and Kitchener. Drivers are reim- bursed for mileage. Canadian Société Cancer canadienne Society à du cancer California _' Mississauga North an)- Showroom SPA&-># 335 Superior Blvd. Fu ITN~ Derry Rd./Highway#1 ITe look good, feel good stores (905) 565-6840 Mississauga South Showroom 2528 Bristol Circle Winston Churchill/Dundas lbehind Home Depoti (905) 829-4991 s **IOS ODS. eAGS HTTB&SIMSAOTE - ; I The Dickens & Firkin Pub et Milton 4 mdtio HMAN FOOSBALL TOURNAMENT AUGUST 711H & 8TH We are Iooking for teams to participate; a team comprises of 8 players and only costs $20.00 per player. To register your teams please contact Diego at the Dickens & Firkin at 905-878-6680. You will receive a T-shirt for each of your members and be given any information you might require. A Milton play-off will be held on Safurday to get down to four teams and on Sunday the finals against the Frigate and Firkin Pub from Brampton will be held here in Milton. There are several prizes to be won & ail this for $2000 per player. Bring your cheering section and have a blasi for a great trne and a super cause. It is also a great way to network and do something different. Diego wiIl be happy to discuss sponsorships if anyone is interested. Please contact Diego at the Dickens & Firkin at 905-878-6680.