Caldwell’s crows not immediate threat

Caldwell, Idaho The recent invasion of hundreds of crows in Caldwell poses no immediate threat of disease, health officials said.

Hundreds or perhaps thousands of crows gather in the city’s trees at nightfall, but Southwest District Health officials said the diseases crows can transmit are not usually associated with outdoor environments.

“Health hazards associated with pest birds, such as crows, are usually associated with permanent roost sites within an enclosed area, such as an attic, roof-top air ducts or inside food and beverage production facilities that contain large accumulations of bird feces,” said David Loper, director of environmental health services for the agency.

Health authorities said disease from pest birds is most often spread if their feces comes in direct contact with human food or water sources. They were not aware of a documented case in which a person contracted West Nile Virus by coming into contact with bird droppings. They said the principal route of human infection with West Nile is through the bite of an infected mosquito, and that threat is minimal now because mosquitoes cannot survive in the cold.

Loper said residents who come into direct contact with birds or their droppings should protect themselves by thoroughly washing the affected skin.

State finds abuse at Gooding nursing home

Gooding, Idaho A local nursing home has been placed on probation after a surprise inspection by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare allegedly found “substantial problems.”

“It involved abuse and neglect by staff – not all staff, but some staff,” Health and Welfare Spokesman Ross Mason said of the Gooding Rehab and Living Center. “They have some substantial problems. There were three immediate jeopardies involving the safety and health of the residents. That’s a serious problem they need to correct immediately.”

Mason said the Gooding Rehab and Living Center received 37 citations, the most serious of which involved abuse, neglect and residents with pressure sores. The statewide average is seven, Mason said.

The alleged problems were found after the agency received a complaint and sent a four-person investigative team to the facility on Jan. 25. Mason said he could not release details about his department’s claims until the team completes its written report. But he did say at least one resident had pressure sores.

Oregon police kill kidnapping suspect

Ontario, Ore. An Oregon man suspected in an attempted kidnapping was shot and killed by police Friday night, police said.

The 17-year-old kidnapping victim escaped and described her assailant and his vehicle to the police.

Officers found the man and attempted to pull him over. He ended up in the driveway of his home, officers said. No other information is available other than an officer fired at least one shot at the suspect and killed him.

“The officer involved in the shooting is an Ontario police officer, so protocol is that an independent agency conducts the investigation,” Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris said. “In this case, the Oregon State Police and Malheur County Sheriff’s Office are doing the officer-involved shooting investigation.”