THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT RELEASE
After a fairly mild winter, the Vermilion County Health Department is urging Vermilion County residents to protect themselves from mosquito and tick-borne illnesses. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is already reporting the first bird this year to test positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in Douglas County.
“The warmer winter and spring have both ticks and mosquitoes active very early this year. The Illinois Department of Public Health says Lyme Disease infections in Illinois have tripled in the last ten years. Finding a West Nile positive bird as early as April is another reminder that we need to start now, diligently protecting ourselves from insect-borne diseases,” says environmental health inspector Lee Schuler.
To decrease your chance of contracting WNV, it is recommended to 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 or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants. It’s also important to ensure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.
To control mosquito populations, it is important to remove their breeding grounds by removing empty planters and containers (tires), keeping gutters clean, removing abandoned swimming pools and removing any ponding or accumulating standing water. Ensure bird baths are properly maintained. Areas of standing water can be reported to the health department and staff will determine if larvicide can be applied to the area. Larvicide prevents mosquito larvae from developing into adult mosquitoes.
Each summer, the health department collects dead birds and mosquitoes around Vermilion County to determine the prevalence of WNV in the county. Environmental health staff set up mosquito traps throughout the county to test mosquitoes. Staff check the traps twice a week throughout the summer months. Positive mosquito batches are reported to the public. The Department is always looking for recommendations for new areas to place traps.
The health department is asking for the public’s assistance with the collection of dead birds to test for WNV. Birds are collected May 1, 2024 through October 15, 2024. VCHD will be accepting a limited number of dead birds (5) for testing. Crows and Blue Jays are preferred but Finches, Sparrows and Robins will also be accepted.
Not all dead birds will be accepted for testing. Birds to be submitted for testing must be intact and dead for no more than 24 hours. Birds must not have any signs of decomposition (maggots, ants, strong odor, bloated or deflated eyes) and must not show any obvious signs of trauma. To report a dead bird, found in Vermilion County, call the Vermilion County Health Department at (217) 431-2662, Ext. 5.
In 2023, VCHD set 19 mosquito traps throughout the county. The Department collected 73 mosquito samples and six samples tested positive for the virus. The Department collected 3 birds and submitted them for laboratory testing. One tested positive for the virus. The Illinois Department of Public Health, with the help of the local health departments, reported that there were 119 human cases of the virus and six human deaths last year.
The Illinois Department of Public Health says that most people are not affected when bitten by a West Nile-infected mosquito. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. Individuals who are over the age of 60 and those who may have chronic health problems are most at risk from the West Nile virus.
Environmental health staff will be also performing tick drags to determine the distribution of tick species throughout the county. Ticks will be sent into the IDPH to be tested for tick-borne diseases. Staff will work with the health department’s communicable diseases division to conduct tick drags in areas of known Lyme disease cases in the county.
Tick exposure can occur year-round, any time temperatures go above 50 degrees, but they become more active during the warmer months so it’s important to take preventative measures when outdoors. Ticks can be found in tall grass and brush so it’s recommended to walk in the center of trails when out hiking. Ticks can easily hide on dark colored clothing so it’s recommended to wear light colored clothing (long sleeve shirts and long pants) so you can easily see ticks. Use bug repellent that contains 20% DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin. Clothing can be treated with permethrin prior to enjoying the outdoors (avoid applying to skin). It’s very important to check clothing and your body for ticks after being outdoors. Also, make sure pets are checked for ticks after being outdoors as ticks can hitch a ride into living spaces on pets.
