By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890 News
(WAUKEGAN, Ill.) — A mosquito pool sampled on June 13 in Highland Park has tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquito pool is the first confirmed indicator of West Nile presence in Lake County in 2019.
“In 2018, there were eight human cases of West Nile virus, including one death confirmed in Lake County,” said Mark Pfister, Executive Director for the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. “Residents need to take action, practicing the 4 Ds of Defense to protect themselves from mosquito bites.”
Practice the “4 Ds of Defense” to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes:
Drain: Drain standing water from items around your home, yard, and business.
Defend: When outdoors, use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, 2-undecanone, or IR3535 and reapply according to label directions.
Dawn and Dusk: Protect yourself all day and night, and wear repellent outdoors during these prime times for mosquito activity.
Dress: Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed toe shoes when outdoors to cover your skin.
“Culex pipiens mosquitoes, which are the primary carriers of West Nile virus, are most abundant in mid- to late summer, when the weather is hot,” said Michael Adam, Senior Biologist for the Health Department. “Residents can help prevent these mosquitoes from breeding by eliminating areas of stagnant water from their properties – items like buckets, gutters and plant containers, kiddie pools, and any other items holding water around homes and businesses – can become breeding sites.”
Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness. However, some may become ill usually three to 15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle ache. In some individuals, severe illness including meningitis or encephalitis, or even death, can occur. People older than 50 and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness from West Nile virus.
Copyright 2019 WLS-AM News
