Evanston’s Health Department announced today that mosquitoes collected in the city have tested positive for West Nile Virus.
The mosquitoes were collected by the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District on July 18 and were the first to test positive for the virus this year.
Public health officials believe that a hot summer could increase mosquito activity and the risk of disease from West Nile virus.
“To protect yourself against illness, wear insect repellent and get rid of any stagnant water around your home to reduce the number of mosquitoes,” said Evanston Health Department Director Evonda Thomas.
The mosquito control district will conduct targeted adult mosquito control operations in portions of northwest Evanston starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday and continuing through 2 a.m. Wednesday, weather permitting.
Surveillance for WNV in Illinois began on May 1st and includes laboratory tests on mosquitoes, dead crows, blue jays, robins and other perching birds as well as the testing of sick horses and humans with West Nile-like disease symptoms. Citizens who observe a sick or dying crow, blue jay, robin or other perching bird should contact the Evanston health department 847-866-2947, health@cityofevanston.org or call 3-1-1.
West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has been infected with the virus by feeding on an infected bird.
Most people with the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Only about two people in 10 who are bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness.
Illness from West Nile is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness such as encephalitis, meningitis and death are possible. 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:
- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
- When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535 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.
- Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles.