The Vermilion County Health Department says a dead bird collected from the north side of Danville has tested positive for West Nile Virus. The virus can be transferred to humans by the bite of a Culex mosquito if the mosquito has bitten an infected bird.
The Health Department suggests you take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by doing such things as eliminating sources of standing water on your property where mosquitoes might breed – including water in bird baths and wading pools.
The Illinois Department of Public Health says there were 155 human cases of West Nile Virus in Illinois during 2016, and six disease-related deaths. There has been one reported disease-related death this year.
Symptoms of West Nile Virus can include fever, body ache, joint pains, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash, and can last up to several weeks. The Center for Disease Control says that only 1 in 5 people infected with the virus develop symptoms, and less than 1-percent of them develop severe or fatal neurological illness.
Other precautions that the Illinois Department of Public Health suggests to avoid mosquito bites include:
- Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have rips or holes where mosquitoes can slip into your home.
- Eliminate all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles.
- If you are spending time outdoors, wear shoes and socks along with long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. And apply an insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to the label directions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
- If you live in a community that has an organized mosquito control program, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.
