West Nile Virus Back in Kane County

The mosquitoes in Kane County are carrying a nasty surprise again this year.

The first mosquitoes collected in Kane County this summer have tested positive for West Nile Virus, the Kane County Health Department announced Thursday.

Two mosquito batches collected in Health Department traps in Elgin and Carpentersville this week have been confirmed positive for the disease.

As many as 19 Illinois counties have seen either birds and/or mosquitoes test positive so far this year, according to a Kane Co. Health Department press release.

The Department is not surprised to see West Nile here, especially since this year has been so hot and dry. West Nile Virus usually surfaces in July or August.

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird, the release said. 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.

Previous West-Nile Cases in Kane County

In 2011, and five cases in 2010.

In 2009, an unusually mild summer with cool temperatures, there were no human cases of West Nile Virus reported in Kane County.

Other years include:

• 2008: 3 cases
• 2007: 13
• 2006: 4
• 2005: 17
• 2004: 2
• 2003: 0 (None)
• 2002: 9

Keep Track of the Virus

The Health Department monitors for West Nile Virus activity all over Kane County. Visit http://kanehealth.com/wnv_surveillance.htm to view a map of the trap locations throughout the county.

As part of its West Nile program, the Health Department is collecting dead birds to be sent to the state lab for testing. Please call 630-444-3040 to report the presence of freshly-dead birds (such as crows or blue jays) to determine if West Nile Virus testing is recommended. The birds must not show any signs of decay or trauma.

About West Nile Virus

Only about two persons out of 10 who are bitten by a West Nile Virus-infected mosquito will experience any illness. Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches.

Serious illness, such as encephalitis and meningitis, and death are also possible in some cases. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.

Protect Yourself

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. Use prevention methods whenever mosquitoes are present.
• When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. 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 tight-fitting 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. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.

Want More Info?

• Go to the Kane County Health Department’s Web site at www.kanehealth.com/west_nile.htm.
• Visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm.
• Call the IDPH West Nile Virus Hotline at 866-369-9710 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.