The El Dorado County Environmental Management and Public Health departments received confirmation on Thursday that a dead bird found in the Al Tahoe area of South Lake Tahoe has tested positive for West Nile virus. This is the first bird to test positive for the virus in South Lake Tahoe this year, and the second bird in El Dorado County.

Thus far, there have been no human or horse cases of the virus reported in El Dorado County this year.

"Confirmation of our first bird in Tahoe means that the virus is circulating between birds and mosquitoes and there is a risk of infection in humans," said Ginger Huber of the Environmental Management Depart-ment. "Residents are advised to take extra precautions to protect themselves."

For more information see www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/emd or www.westnile.ca.gov.