The West Nile Virus has now been reported in Washington County as well as six other counties in the Central and Northern parts of the state. The State Department of Public Health is urging people to ‘fight the bite’.
West Nile has shown up in a total of 15 batches including the one in Washington County. It has also been found in DuPage, Cook, Will, Logan, Edgar, and Macoupin Counties. So far IDPH spokesperson Mike Claffey says there have been no reports in humans.
“We really want people to protect themselves. Especially at times when mosquitos are likely to be out. Dusk is a time there are a lot of mosquitos around. If you’re heading outside and are going to be outside for a period of time and wearing short-sleeves and shorts it is really a good idea to wear insect repellant.”
Claffey says it is also a good idea to make sure windows have tight-fitting screens without any tears.
The other thing homeowners can do is to eliminate standing water where mosquitos breed such as large puddles, drainage ditches and so on that are full of water that allows mosquitos to breed.”
Common symptoms of the virus include fever, nausea, headache, and muscle aches. Last year in Illinois, 64 people tested positive for the virus and five died.
