Owl in McHenry County tests positive for West Nile virus

McHenry County public health officials are reminding people to guard against mosquitoes after an owl tested positive for West Nile virus.

The owl was collected from Union on June 27. All other bird samples have tested negative for the virus, according to the county health department.

Symptoms of infection in humans usually include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Severe infections, though, can cause high fever, stiff neck, muscle weakness, disorientation, paralysis, and, in rare cases, death, the health department said in a news release. People 60 or older or those with serious underlying health conditions are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms.

The health department urges people to eliminate potential mosquito breeding areas by emptying standing water from containers around your home. Doors and windows should have tight-fitting screens.

When outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks, especially during dawn and dusk when Culex mosquitoes — the kind that carry the virus — are most active. And apply EPA-registered insect repellents.

If you find a dead blue jay, crow, or other perching bird, contact the department’s Division of Environmental Health at (815) 334-4585.