Fremont County Environmental Health Officer Sid Darden is reminding area residents about the procedures that must be followed if people want sick or dead birds tested for West Nile Virus. COHELP, the Colorado Health Emergency Line for Public Information, is a special toll free phone number that must be contacted first before birds are brought in for testing. The toll free number is 1-877-462-2911. If the COHELP staff determines that a sick or dead bird is suitable for testing, you will be referred back to Fremont County Environmental Health Services using the following criteria:
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The bird must have recently died (less than 48 hours!) to be considered for testing. Carcasses that are decomposed, desiccated or maggot-infested will not be tested.
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Due to a very limited staff, and the time required for us to collect samples in the field, we are requesting that birds submitted for testing be brought to the Fremont County Administration Building, 615 Macon , Room 212. Suitable birds should be refrigerated, or if there will be a delay in getting the birds to us, they may be frozen.
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Information about the bird must be provided, including the name, address and phone number of the person submitting the bird for testing. In addition, we need the actual location where the bird was collected. When the bird is brought to our office, we will ask you to complete a submission form with all of the necessary information. An incomplete form will result in the bird not being tested.