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Fight the bite! West Nile virus season is here

Evidence of West Nile virus in northern Illinois has surfaced this year. The Kane County Health Department advises residents that now is a good time to inspect their homes and yards for sources of standing water.

Mosquitoes gathered recently in traps in DuPage County have tested positive for the disease, the first reported in the state this year.

As of now, there have not been any positive mosquito pools, birds, or signs of West Nile virus in humans in Kane County. In 2018, Kane reported seven human cases and 59 positive mosquito pools.

For historical statistics about West Nile virus in Kane County, see KaneHealth.com/Pages/West-Nile-Statistics.aspx.

The mosquitoes typically seen in late spring and early summer are not the kind that spreads West Nile virus. Those mosquitoes are called "nuisance" or floodwater mosquitoes.

West Nile virus is most commonly associated with the Culex mosquito. Hot, dry weather and stagnant water are the main ingredients prized by the Culex.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito that has 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.

Only about two people out of 10 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 serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are possible. People older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.

The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include:

• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.

• When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, light colored long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.

• Make sure doors and windows have tightfitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.

• Change water in birdbaths weekly.

• Properly maintain wading pools and stock ornamental ponds with fish.

• Cover rain barrels with 16-mesh wire screen.

• Contact your local government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.

The Kane County Health Department monitors for West Nile virus activity in the county. Visit KaneHealth.com/Documents/Diseases/WestNileTrapMap.pdf to view a map of the trap locations throughout the county.

The Health Department is also collecting dead birds to be sent to the state lab for testing. Call (630) 444-3040 to report the presence of freshly-dead birds such as crows or blue jays for West Nile virus testing. The birds must not show any signs of decay or trauma.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found at KaneHealth.com/Pages/West-Nile-Virus.aspx or the Illinois Department of Public Health's website at idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm.

People also can call the Illinois Department of Public Health West Nile virus Hotline at (866) 369-9710 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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