City Reminds Residents to Take Precautions to Reduce Mosquito Population

The City of Naperville reminds residents to take precautions to reduce areas of standing water around their homes, which can act as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

A City mosquito trap at Iroquois Avenue and Columbia Street in Arrowhead Park tested positive for West Nile Virus the week of September 5. This area also tested positive in early August. Since that time, City crews have sprayed that area every Friday morning as a precaution using the safest chemicals available in very low volumes. Department of Public Works crews have also checked the area for breeding sites and retreated catch basins. All other mosquito traps located throughout the City tested negative for the virus the week of September 5.

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus that is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people who are infected with the West Nile Virus have no symptoms or experience very mild symptoms three to fourteen days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Mild symptoms include a fever, headache and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. Less than 1 percent of infected people with West Nile Virus will develop severe symptoms. Persons 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:

• Whenever outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long sleeved shirt. Loose fitting, light colored clothing is best. Consider staying indoors at dusk and dawn, which is peak mosquito biting time.

• Apply insect repellant to exposed skin when outdoors. The most effective repellents contain DEET. Use caution when applying repellant to children. Products containing 10 percent or less DEET are the most appropriate for children from 2 to 12 years of age. Use repellents as directed by the manufacturer.

• Install tight-fitting window and door screens. Check for and repair any tears in residential screens, including porches and patios. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.

• Reduce or eliminate the amount of standing water around your home. Remove old tires, tin cans, flower pots and buckets and change the water in birdbaths at least once a week. Any container holding water for more than four days can become a breeding ground for thousands of mosquitoes.

• Keep gutters clear of debris.

• Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around your home.

• Eliminate yard ruts and puddles.

• Aerate ornamental ponds or stock with larvae eating fish.

• Use Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), available in hardware stores, in any standing water around your home.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports that thirteen Illinois counties, including DuPage and Will, have had positive West Nile virus mosquito samples. There have been four human cases of West Nile Virus this year in Cook County. The IDPH also reports that the West Nile activity for 2011 is behind that of 2010 and far behind the peak West Nile activity year of 2005.

For more information on the City of Naperville's Mosquito Abatement Program, visit www.naperville.il.us/mosquitocontrol.aspx. For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us. Sign up to receive the latest news on the City of Naperville's projects and initiatives via e-mail at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.