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Increase in mosquitoes anticipated
Health
department urges awareness and protection
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[August 20, 2007]
The Logan County Health Department reminds you
that warm weather can increase the number of mosquitoes and with it
increase the risk of West Nile virus to humans. The best way to
reduce the risk of West Nile disease is to eliminate mosquito
breeding areas around your home and take personal precautions to
avoid mosquito bites.
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Precautions to prevent mosquitoes:
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Avoid being
outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between
dusk and dawn. Use prevention methods whenever mosquitoes are
present.
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When outdoors,
wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and
apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of
lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Contact a
physician before using repellents on infants.
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Make sure doors
and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace
screens that might have tears or other openings. Try to keep
doors and windows shut, especially at night.
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Eliminate all
sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding,
including water in birdbaths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools,
old tires and other receptacles. Contact your local municipal
government or the Logan County Health Department to report areas
of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar
locations that may produce mosquitoes.
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Surveillance for West Nile virus in Illinois began May 1 and
includes laboratory tests on mosquitoes, dead crows, blue jays,
robins and other perching birds, as well as the testing of sick
horses and humans with West Nile-like disease symptoms. Logan County
residents who observe a sick or dying perching bird should contact
the Logan County Health Department, which will determine if the bird
is to be collected for testing.
West Nile virus is transmitted though the bite of a mosquito that
has been picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most
people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some
may become ill three to 14 days after the bite of an infected
mosquito. The first human case in Illinois is not usually reported
until July or later.
Only two out of 10 people who are bitten by an infected mosquito
will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile is usually mild
and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serous illness,
such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible. People
older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of disease.
To report stagnant water or a sick or dying bird, please contact
the Matt Ringenberg with the Logan County Health Department at
217-735-2317.
[Text from file received
from the Logan
County Health Department] |
