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IDPH Reports First Mosquito Pool
in Illinois to Test Positive for West Nile Virus in 2025 Found in
Winnebago County
[May 14, 2025]
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois
Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting that the first
mosquito pool of the year to test positive for West Nile virus (WNV)
this year was collected on May 9 in Rockford by the Winnebago County
Health Department. The specimen tested positive for WNV on May 12.
“The news of the first batch of mosquitos carrying West Nile virus
is a reminder for Illinois residents to begin protecting themselves
from diseases caused by mosquito and tick bites,” said IDPH Director
Dr. Sameer Vohra. “The best defense against West Nile virus is to
practice the ‘Three R’s’: reduce, repel, and report’. IDPH urges
everyone, and especially those who are older or have weakened immune
systems, to ‘Fight the Bite’ and protect themselves and their
families from mosquitoes and the viruses they carry.”
Last year in Illinois,
IDPH reported that 72 counties around the state reported
positive tests for WNV in mosquitos, birds, horses or humans. There
were 69 confirmed human cases of WNV according to IDPH data and 13
human deaths, the highest number since 17 deaths were recorded in
2018.
IDPH maintains a robust surveillance system to monitor WNV both in
the environment, with laboratory testing of mosquito batches and
sick horses, and among Illinois residents by investigating and
monitoring human infections.
West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a Culex mosquito,
commonly called a house 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. Most people infected with West Nile virus will not show
any symptoms; however, in rare cases, severe illness including
meningitis, encephalitis, or even death, can occur. People older
than 60 and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher
risk for severe illness from West Nile virus.
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IDPH urges the
public to Fight the Bite by practicing the three “R’s” – reduce,
repel, and report:
REDUCE- 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.Eliminate, or refresh each week,
all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed,
including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools,
old tires, and any other containers.
REPEL- when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a
light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and apply an EPA-registered
insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon
eucalyptus, IR 3535, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone
according to label instructions. Consult a physician before
using repellents on infants.
REPORT – report locations where you see water sitting stagnant
for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards,
and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local
health department or city government may be able to add
larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito larvae.
Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the
IDPH website.
[Illinois Dept. of Public Health]
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