The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday (May 31, 2018) the first mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus in Illinois for 2018. North Shore Mosquito Abatement District staff collected the positive mosquitoes on May 25, 2018, in Glenview and Morton Grove.

No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported so far this year. Last year, the first human case in Illinois was reported on July 20.

“As we see higher temperatures, we will start to see more West Nile virus activity,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D.  “Although we see West Nile virus in Illinois every year, don’t become complacent. It’s easy to take precautions to protect yourself by wearing insect repellent and getting rid of standing water around your home.”

Kane County Cases

Kane County reported two West Nile cases in humans in 2017. The highest number of human West Nile cases in Kane County in recent years was 13 in 2012. Click this link for Kane County West Nile Surveillance data from 2017.

Kane County has seen four West Nile deaths since 2002, according to statistics provided by the Kane County Health Department. The deaths occurred in 2012, 2010, 2008 and 2002.

The Kane County Health Department offers an array of insights, information and prevention advice on its West Nile page. The Health Department also provides weekly surveillance reports, which typically start in late June and continue through mid-October.

Monitoring West Nile

Monitoring for West Nile virus in Illinois includes laboratory tests for mosquito batches, dead crows, blue jays, robins and other perching birds, as well as testing sick horses and humans with West Nile virus-like symptoms.

People who observe a sick or dying crow, blue jay, robin or other perching bird should contact their local health department, which will determine if the bird will be picked up for testing.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a Culex pipiens 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.

However, four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms. In rare cases, severe illness including meningitis or 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.

The first West Nile virus positive result in 2017 was mosquitoes collected on May 23-24, 2017, in Madison County. Last year, 63 counties in Illinois reported a West Nile virus positive mosquito batch, bird and/or human case.

For the 2017 season, IDPH reported 90 human cases (although human cases are underreported), including eight deaths.

Take Precautions

Precautions to Fight the Bite include 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 — Ehen outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 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 eggs.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the IDPH website.

SOURCE: Illinois Department of Public Health news release, Kane County Health Department website