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 “As the weather continues to warm up we’re starting to see more
mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus,” said IDPH Director Nirav D.
Shah, M.D., J.D. “There are some simple steps you can take, like
wearing insect repellent and getting rid of standing water around
your home, which will help reduce your risk of being bit by an
infected mosquito.”
Surveillance for West Nile virus in Illinois includes laboratory
tests on mosquito batches, dead crows, blue jays, robins and other
perching birds, as well as testing sick horses and humans with West
Nile virus-like symptoms. People who observe a sick or dying crow,
blue jay, robin or other perching bird should contact their local
health department, which will determine if the bird will be picked
up for testing.
West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that
has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common
symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms
may last from a few days to a few weeks. However, four out of five
people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms. In
rare cases, severe illness including meningitis or encephalitis, or
even death, can occur. People older than 50 and immunocompromised
individuals are at higher risk for severe illness from West Nile
Virus.
The first West Nile virus positive results in 2014 were a positive
bird in Henry County collected on May 29, 2014, and a positive
mosquito batch in Madison County collected on May 30, 2014. Last
year, 50 counties in Illinois reported a West Nile virus positive
mosquito batch, bird and/or human case. For the 2014 season, IDPH
reported 44 human cases (although human cases are underreported),
including four deaths. No human cases of West Nile virus have been
reported so far this year.
Although West Nile virus has only been reported in two counties as
of today, that does not mean West Nile virus is not circulating your
community. Remember to take some simple precautions to reduce the
number of mosquitoes around your home and protect yourself from
being bitten. Precautions include practicing the three “R’s” –
reduce, repel, and report.
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REDUCE exposure - minimize being outdoors when mosquitoes are
most active, especially between dusk and dawn. If you go outside
during these times, take precautions. Even if mosquito numbers seem
low, it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to transmit
the virus.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or
replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors
and windows shut, especially at night.
Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can
breed, such as old tires, buckets and other receptacles, or refresh
the water in bird baths, flowerpots and wading pools every couple
days.
REPEL - when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a
long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET,
picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label
instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on
infants.
REPORT – report dead birds to your local health department.
In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs,
contact your municipal government about areas of stagnant water in
roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may
produce mosquitoes.
Additional information about West Nile virus can be found by logging
onto
www.dph.illinois.gov/
topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/west-nile-virus.
[Illinois Department of Public
Health]
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