SEATTLE -- King County Public Health will begin testing a portion of dead birds in an effort to determine if any have been infected with West Nile virus.

King County has not had a documented case of West Nile since the outbreak began nationally in 1999, but the virus has been found in neighboring counties.

"West Nile virus is primarily a bird disease that can sometimes infect people, so testing birds may give us advance warning that the virus is in our county," said Dr. Sharon Hopkins a Public Health veterinarian for Public Health of Seattle & King County. "Most people who get West Nile virus show no signs of illness, however, some people, especially the elderly, can become seriously ill or even die."

Public Health is requesting that dead birds be reported to the environmental division at 206-205-4394 or online.